Shamedcarer struck off for stealing from dyingOAP
A SHAMED housing worker and benefit cheat has been struck off after stealing cash from a dying pensioner’s bank account.
Catriona Dey, 41, has been removed from the social work register for taking advantage of cancer patient David Cummings at his home in Cumbernauld’s Roadside sheltered housing complex.
Dey was also accused of having a party there after the 68-year-old died, with a relative claiming at her tribunal she had propped up his body in the coffin at his home.
Mr Cumming’s nephew Douglas told the tribunal neighbours saw his uncle’s body with a baseball cap and sunglasses on, and a cigarette in his mouth when they investigated noise coming from the house.
Dey, who worked for North Lanarkshire Council at the time of the offences in 2013, took documents from the pensioner’s home including his driving licence and bank statements.
She also turned a blind eye when someone took a ring, belonging to the man’s dead partner, from his house after he died.
Dey told Monklands hospital staff she was Mr Cumming’s next of kin and his carer, and nobody else should be contacted about his condition except her – none of which she was true.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)’s decision to remove Dey’s registration came after 26 allegation of misconduct were proven against her.
These included failing to tell them she had been charged with benefit fraud, worth £8500, at Airdrie Sheriff Court in March, last year.
Their report stated Dey “repeatedly visited [Mr Cummings] whilst not on duty as a relief housing support officer”.
They said she had demanded the pensioner’s carer hand over his bank card, and she hid from CCTV as she withdrew cash from the machine.
She also failed to report that people had been in his home after his death, and that a ring belonging to his dead partner had been taken.
Dey described herself to Cumming’s relatives as “like the daughter he never had”.
At the tribunal hearing in Dundee last month, Mr Cumming’s two daughters and nephew gave evidence before the committee.
They ruled: “There was a serious abuse of trust which has occurred over a period of time.
“There was a very serious departure from the Codes of Practice...[there was] and element of dishonesty resulting in loss to the public purse.
“In the round there was a pattern of behaviour which was either dishonest or deceptive.”
A North Lanarkshire Council spokeswoman said: “The individual ceased employment with North Lanarkshire Council in April 2014.
“The council notified the SSSC and police of the matters it had been investigating.
“We also co-operated fully with a subsequent DWP investigation regarding this person in respect of benefit fraud.
“All recruitment processes had been fully carried out regarding this person prior to their employment with North Lanarkshire Council, including the required Disclosure Scotland check.” A BANKER is swapping bonuses for brakeless bikes on the sweeping bends of a Glasgow racetrack.
Tom Perry works as an essential banker with Barclays, and is used to dealing with run-of-the-mill customer queries in his 9-5 job.
But the 24-year-old will ditch the spreadsheets for the shale on and my girlfriend had a little speedway for the night. Saturday nights as he dons the one and I had a nasty accident, “I try not to think about Glasgow Tigers racejacket and and you need an income. numbers when I finish work. I tries to beat three other riders “My friend worked at only try to think about numbers in furious 70mph heats. Barclays and told me there was when it comes to how many
And far from crunching a job coming up. I applied for it, points I’ve scored. numbers, he’ll be in some not thinking I was going to pass “The job is going really well. bruising battles on his 500cc the assessments, but I went to I still want to race speedway bike at the Peugeot Ashfield the interview and then a week full-time but you never know Stadium on Hawthorn Street as later I got the call – it was a bit what’s round the corner, and it he bids to help the famous old of a shock. means there’s always a job there club to the SGB Championship “It does raise some eyebrows for me.” title. in the bank because I think Perry is based near Birming
Perry admitted his second job everyone thinks speedway ham and works in Wolverhampoften caught the attention of riders are pretty dumb people ton. But incredibly he makes colleagues and customers at his who can only turn left. the near 600-mile round-trip branch. “The thrills are at different each Saturday night to race in
He said: “Whenever anyone ends of the scale completely. In Glasgow, as well as journeying asks me about my speedway, the day I’ll be in the bank with a to away meetings across the K.theyusuallydon’tbelieveme.shirtandtieon,andthenwhenU
“I left school with nothing I’m riding, I’ll come out the He joined the Tigers this really and I just planned on bank, get changed in my car or season and made his debut at being a speedway rider – that’s van – chuck some jeans on and the weekend, scoring six points all I ever wanted to do. But me a flat peak – and end up racing in a 53-37 win over Scunthorpe.