Carer stole £5,000 from dementia sufferer, 92

A carer who was helping to look after a woman of 92 with dementia stole £5,000 from her.

Zoe Nash, from Aylesham, gave the money to her expartner who used it to buy a car, Canterbury Crown Court was told.

Nash, 34, of Dorman Avenue, admitted theft and two offences of fraud and was jailed for 13 months, suspended for two years.

Matthew Bolt, prosecuting, said care for the victim was shared between her godchildren – who lived some distance away – and a neighbour. Nash was employed to work occasional hours.

“Just before Christmas last year the victim’s godchild noticed some discrepancies in her accounts,” Mr Bolt said.

“A cheque was found for £5,000, drawn in the favour of Nash. The godchild contacted Nash and asked her to repay the money but she refused to do so.

More investigations were carried out and an application for a credit card was found in the victim’s name.”

The card was never issued. Nash also tried to obtain a £4,000 loan by using the victim as a guarantor but this was unsuccessful, Mr Bolt said.

After her arrest Nash denied everything, saying the £5,000 was a gift but later admitted the offences.

Nash, who has three children aged 14, 11 and six, had a previous conviction for shoplifting.

In addition to the jail sentence Nash was ordered to attend 30 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and pay £140 victim surcharge.