Gateshead carer stole almost £11,000 from disabled woman

Suspicions arose in April 2023 when another carer noticed the victim’s bank card was missing from her bag, prosecutor Rachel Butt said.

They flagged it up to managers who investigated and found the card had been used on a number of occasions to make withdrawals totaling around £10,749 from machines near where Brians lived.

When confronted, Brians admitted what he had done and said he was an alcoholic who stole to fund his vodka addiction, Ms Butt said.

In a statement, the 55-year-old victim said she “thought the world” of Brians but the carer “abused” her trust.

She said it was very difficult for her to trust anyone else, adding: “I trusted this woman who was paid to take care of me with my daily needs, I didn’t expect her to steal from I.”