Home carer stole £300 from client

A HOME carer employed to help look after a man with motor neurone disease stole his wallet when his back was turned, a court has heard.

When caught, Hannah Ward claimed she had picked up the wallet – which contained £300 in cash – by accident and had been too embarrassed to return it.

Swansea Crown Court heard the theft of the wallet by a person he trusted shook the victim’s faith in human nature during what were the last months of his life. A judge told the defendant that any right-minded person would feel revulsion at what she had done.

Hannah George, prosecuting, said at the time of the offence Ward was employed by Seren Home Care, and one of the firm’s clients was a 60-yearold Glynneath man with motor neurone disease who required two daily visits to help with tasks such as cooking and showering.

She said that though not one of the man’s regular carers, Ward was nonetheless one of the trusted helpers who would attend at the house.

The court heard that on April 24 this year the victim realised his wallet was missing from its usual spot in the side pocket of his armchair.

He realised the only time he had left the chair was when Ward had been in the house – indeed she had helped him out of the chair.

The prosecutor said the man’s family called Seren to report their concerns, and the firm advised them to contact the police. The company asked Ward to attend a meeting with managers but she resigned with immediate effect, and did not turn up.

The police were contacted, and on June 21 the defendant went for a voluntary interview with officers. Ward told them she had picked up the wallet by accident and had been too embarrassed to return it, but then handed it in to a local barber’s shop – checks with the business in question confirmed that was not the case.

The court heard that six months after the theft, the victim passed away.

In a statement, the deceased’s family said the victim had always seen the best in people but having a trusted carer steal from him “caused him to lose his faith in people”.

Hannah Ward, 34, of Oak Road, Gurnos, Merthyr Tydfil, had previously pleaded guilty to theft when she appeared in the dock for sentencing.

Craig Jones, for Ward, accepted his client had committed a “mean offence”. He said the defendant had worked hard all her life and, since 2013, had also effectively been the full-time carer for her husband following his discharge from the armed forces.

With a one-quarter discount for her guilty plea, Judge Paul Thomas QC sentenced the defendant to nine months in prison suspended for 18 months, and ordered her to complete a rehabilitation course and 200 hours of unpaid work. She must also pay back the money she stole to the victim’s family.