CARE WORKER USED WIDOW’S BANK CARD TO PAY FOR HAIR EXTENSIONS
‘It was a great abuse of trust against vulnerable victim’
CARER Sarah Adnams fraudulently used a bank card belonging to an elderly lady so she could buy hair extensions.
Adnams was working as a carer for the 81-year-old victim when she accessed her bank account.
The fraud was discovered when the victim’s daughter noticed the transaction while checking her mum’s bank statement.
Now 35-year-old Adnams has received a suspended prison sentence and been ordered to pay back the money she stole, after she pleaded guilty to fraud.
Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard Adnams was employed by a care company that provided daily support to the victim, who lived alone following the death of her husband.
Prosecutor Sue Hayers said: “The injured party said she had been visited by a carer called Sarah.
“She really liked her and they had chatted. On a couple of occasions, Sarah had done her hair.
“The injured party’s daughter dealt with her bank account. She said her daughter told her someone had used her bank details to purchase some hair extensions.
“This, of course, was odd. The victim had not given anyone permission to use her bank account.
“It transpired the extensions had been delivered to the defendant’s address.
“When the victim was advised the hair extensions had been purchased by Sarah, she said she was shocked and upset that the defendant had done that.”
The court heard the victim’s daughter confronted Adnams and she admitted what she had done.
She offered to repay the money – but never did.
In a statement, the victim’s daughter said: ‘I’m appalled by her behaviour.
“She was entrusted to look after my mother and instead fraudulently used her bank details, abusing my mum who would not have known what was happening.”
Adnams, of Hampshire Crescent, Lightwood, was arrested and told police in her interview that the fraud – which took place in February – had been ‘a moment of madness’.
Debbie Leadbeater, mitigating, told the court: “She said to the police at the time she was very sorry indeed because she got on well with the lady and felt she was almost a friend.
“She cannot understand how she did this. She is disgusted with herself.
“She has already suffered a great deal by losing her job and, with this conviction, she has no chance of getting a job in the care sector again – a job she loved.”
Magistrates handed Adnams a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
She must complete a 20day rehabilitation activity requirement and 100 hours’ unpaid work.
Adrian Jackson, chairman of the bench, told her: “We consider this to be a very serious matter. It was a great abuse of trust and involved a very vulnerable victim.”
Adnams was ordered to pay £74.97 compensation to the victim, plus £313 in court costs and charges.