It’s payback time for crooked carer
ORDERED TO HAND OVER £12K HE STOLE FROM RESIDENTS AT HOME
A CARE home worker who was jailed after he stole thousands of pounds from vulnerable residents he was trusted to look after has been ordered to pay back almost £12,000.
Anthony Cunningham, 29, was jailed in January after he admitted stealing more than £44,000 from three people while he worked as a support manager at Chataway Nursing Home in Crumpsall. His three victims suffered from mental health problems and lacked the capacity to be able to manage their finances independently, so staff – including Cunningham – were entrusted to manage them.
But Cunningham, a cocaine and gambling addict, helped himself to the sum over five years to feed his vices.
At Manchester Crown Court, Cunningham, from Monsall, was jailed for two years and four months. Now after another court hearing, he has been ordered to pay back £11,873 of his illgotten gains.
If he fails to repay the money within three months, he could have eight months added to his sentence.
After the hearing, Adrian Phillips, unit head at the Crown Prosecution Service’s Proceeds of Crime team, said: “Cunningham was trusted to care for some very vulnerable people and he selfishly exploited that role to fuel his drug and gambling habit.
“In one case he took so much money that he drained one victim’s account, leaving them with just £6.
“Thanks to the work of our specialist team of prosecutors, he will now have to repay almost £12,000, showing that crime doesn’t pay.”
The hearing in January was told the alarm was raised after the home’s business manager tried to withdraw some money out of one victim’s account, but discovered it contained only £6. After being confronted, Cunningham admitted the thefts and said he had addictions to cocaine and gambling.
His lawyer said he was being pressurised ‘every day’ by dealers who turned up at his house. He said Cunningham had sought help for his problems. Cunningham, of Jocelyn Street, Monsall, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft.
Referring to Cunningham’s victims, Judge Patrick Field QC told him: “They all relied upon those who were caring for them, including you. They were all particularly vulnerable as a result.
“They and their families were entitled to believe that they would be safe and well cared for in the nursing home.
“You completely betrayed that trust in order to feed your own vices.”