Trusted helper caught stuffing patient’s cash in bra
SHOCKING footage shows a carer stealing £130 from the home of an elderly dementia patient – before stuffing the cash in her bra.
Graziella Avetti, 61, was supposed to be looking after the woman, in her 90s, when she started rummaging through a purse and bedside cabinet.
She was filmed by a motion-detecting camera – which the family had hidden in an alarm clock – after £20,000 worth of jewellery was stolen days earlier.
Ten items including rings, watches, a bracelet and necklaces, were taken from the house in Normanton-onthe-Wolds, Notts, in October last year.
Five days later Avetti was working a night shift when she was filmed taking cash from a purse belonging to the woman’s daughter.
Avetti, of Long Eaton, Derbys, was arrested and initially denied the theft but later admitted stealing the money.
She was handed a 12-month community order, 160 hours’ unpaid work and ordered to pay £750 costs and an £85 victim surcharge at Nottingham Crown Court.
No one has been arrested in connection with the jewellery theft. Speaking
members of society”. He added: “You caused untold misery to decent, trusting people who had led blameless lives and who must have had their beliefs in human behaviour and decency shattered in the later stages of their lives all to serve your grubby selfish greed.”
Barnes, who admitted conspiracy to defraud before the trial, was jailed for six years and seven months.
Palmer was jailed for three years after she was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud following an eight week trial.
Judge Seely said she had played an “important part” in the plot by befriending elderly victims to win their confidence.
Salter, of Pitsea, Essex, was jailed for four years and Rogers was handed an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years. after the sentencing this week, Police Investigation Officer Russell Oliver said: “Avetti was trusted to care for an elderly woman and had stayed overnight at the house on a number of occasions.
“But the family was horrified to find crystal clear video footage showing she had stolen cash when only the elderly mother was at home with her – and she clearly thought no one would be looking.
“After the daughter of the woman she was caring for Last night Mrs Mills’ nephew Barry, 54, insisted judges should be given more powers to impose tougher sentences on criminals who target the elderly.
He said: “He should have been given life.
“We can’t carry on letting people came home the next morning she was calmly drinking coffee in the kitchen and exchanged pleasantries.
“Thankfully the family’s hidden camera caught her red-handed and she has now had to face up to what she had done.”
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said officers had been alerted after relatives checked the camera. There was “clear footage of Avetti taking cash”, so the police were called and she was arrested. like him ride roughshod over the justice system.
“The last memories these victims have is being ripped off and having everything taken away from them.”