Home care worker jailed for stealing £16,500 from man with dementia

A care worker has been jailed for 12 months after being found guilty of stealing £16,500 from a man with dementia.

Jemma Laney, 30, of Saundersfoot Close, Warrington, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position and one of theft from a 78-year-old man.

Laney, who was employed by the home care agency Direct Health and helped the man prepare his evening meals and take his medication, is the sole carer for her son and a grandparent who has dementia.

She was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on 26 November. Her fraud began when she opened an online banking account for him on 12 April 2017 giving herself access to his money.

Laney withdrew large amounts of cash and went on online shopping sprees at Next and Amazon on Michael Kors handbags and purses, a Tag Heur watch, a Louis Vuitton holdall and scarf, a Stella McCartney handbag and an Emporio Armani watch. She also spent his money on trips to Alton Towers, Gulliver’s World, Haven Holiday Resorts and Chester Zoo.

She also cancelled a number of longstanding direct debits the 78-year-old made every month to charities.

In her interview with police Laney claimed he gave her his bank card and statements, saying: “They are going to take everything, spend it all”.

A social worker discovered the thefts when she encouraged the elderly man to open some bank statements and found a large number of dubious transactions.

Detective Constable Ian Morris said: “Laney used the victim’s failing health as an opportunity to steal money and spend it on luxury items for herself.

“This is a shocking way to treat a vulnerable man and I hope this sentence brings some comfort to the victim.”