43 yo home help caught stealing cash from purse of 81 yo demented woman
Judge handing Reid a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years at Newcastle Crown Court, said: "You were employed as a carer at the time, a home help.
The callous carer was supposed to be looking after 81-year-old dementia sufferer Wilma Taylor.
But instead, she took advantage of the vulnerable woman and raided her handbag.
Reid, of The Byways, Longbenton, North Tyneside, was on
More..ly caught out when Mrs Taylor's brother became suspicious and set up CCTV in her home in Benton.
There the 43-year-old home help, who admitted three counts of theft, was caught cruelly sneaking into the pensioner's bag on three occasions in one month, stealing pounds 100.
Now, Mrs Taylor's furious family have spoken of their anger that their trust was betrayed by the very person who should have been helping their sister.
Fred Crawford, of Gosforth, Newcastle, who set up the camera with his brother Brian Robson, said: "It makes me sick to think of Reid. She's totally evil.
"It's not the money that bothers us, it's the betrayal of trust.
"Alzheimer's is a cruel disease and for someone to take advantage of that doesn't bear thinking about.
"A lot of money was going missing over a long period of time and everyone was under suspicion so we had to find out what was happening.
"When I saw her on camera, I was furious.
You can see her sneaking in and looking about to check the coast is clear before she goes for the money.
I rang Brian straight away and told him what I'd seen, then we contacted the police.
"She's been caught for these times, but I can't help wondering how long it was going on."
Mr Crawford and his brother helped their sister, who was diagnosed with the disease four years ago, to retain her independence as much as possible but employed carers for when they couldn't be there.
The pair now find it difficult to trust anyone to look after Mrs Taylor and say they are worried about the future.
But for Mrs Taylor's family, the sentence is not enough.
"I'm disgusted that she got let off with a suspended sentence," said 68-year-old Mr Crawford. "She's shown no compassion and absolutely no remorse for what she's done."
The family were first alerted when Mrs Taylor, unaware of what was going on, withdrew money from her bank every day.
Her brothers set up CCTV and Reid was caught stealing on January 13, February 10 and February 14.
Stuart Graham, defending, said: "She is completely devastated by what happened and is truly sorry. "Over the last few years her life has fallen apart, she lost her marriage of 22 years, her house and her father."
Less..
Added: Nov 4 2009 In: news_politics
Recorded on: Feb 14 2009
By: beck64
- Tags:
- home help,
- carer,
- steal,
- theft,
- caught,
- cam,
- security tape,
- sentence,
- purse,
- money,
- cash,
- demented,
- crook,
- thief
- Views: 1018 |
- Votes: 1 |
- Recommendations: 0 |
- Comments: 17
