Care home worker admits abuse of company credit card

A care home manager has admitted using the company credit card to buy items for herself or her family. Clare West also used her role to purport to buy items on behalf other people which they never received.

The 35-year-old was working as a manager at the Westbury Lodge care home Station Road, Westbury, in when she abused her position to commit the offences.

West, of Parklands, Trowbridge, admitted three counts of fraud when she appeared before a judge at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

In the first case she admitted using a company credit card to buy items for herself or her family between Thursday, November 6 and Tuesday, December 16.

The other offences relate to her using her position to buy things for two people which they did not get.

She had also been charged with perverting the course of justice alleging she had asked a work colleague to lie on her behalf saying they had bought items for the home together.

West pleaded not guilty to that allegation and the prosecution indicated they would not be proceeding with the matter.

Judge Douglas Field adjourned the case to Friday, July 3 so the probation service can compile a pre-sentence report on her.

He released West on bail on condition she does not have any contact with people at the care home and complies with the preparation of the report.