Stafford carer stole £5,000 from elderly victim

Linda Harnett, aged 54, from Hurlingham Road, Stafford, was trusted to care for Minnie Alldis, who is now living in a retirement home, but stole £5,360 between April 14 2015 and October 28 2016 using her debit card.

Harnett took the cash to help pay off debts totalling £13,000 but was rumbled when her victim’s family discovered that her accounts did not match up with her spending.

Harnett appeared at Cannock Magistrates Court where she pleaded guilty to one charge of theft and was given a suspended prison sentence after being warned by magistrates about how close she had come to going to prison immediately.

Prosecuting, Emma Thompson, said: “Over an 18 months the defendant, who was acting as the elderly victims carer, has used her bank card to steal over £5,000.

“The injured party is now living in a care home and it was prior to her move there that her family noticed a lot of money had been going missing from her account, dating back to 2015.

“She told her family that she had allowed the defendant to use her bank card to make purchases for her but not to use the card without permission.”

When questioned by police about the theft, Harnett made a full admission, the court heard on Wednesday.

Defence solicitor David Ellis said: “This lady was a member of care staff and due to problems with debt she took the victim’s bank card and withdrew cash to try and pay some off that off.

“At no stage did she spend this money on anything other than trying to pay off that debt.

“She has shown complete remorse and this is not because she has been caught but because of the damage caused to the victim.

“She has a clean criminal record before this which she will obviously be losing now but she just wants to try and make the situation better.”

Harnett was given a 26 week prison sentence suspended for 2 years, as well as being ordered to pay a £115 surcharge, £185 costs and £5,300 in compensation to her victim.

When sentencing, chief magistrate Dennis Gadsby said: “This is a huge breach of trust and we have to say that your crimes obviously cross the custody threshold.

“This is a narrow escape for you because we thought long and hard about sending you to prison today. Your remorse and good character have helped you escape that.”