Family of conned patient furious at carer’s sentence

THE family of an elderly dementia patient who had thousands of pounds stolen from her bank account while living in a Gwent care home have spoken of their frustration that the thief was jailed for just two years.
Glenys Ormond, who also had Parkinsons disease, was living at Llanyravon Court care home, Cwmbran, when care worker Zeenar Ahmed stole more than £65,000 from her bank account and spent it in shops in the West Midlands between September 2010, and January 2011.

Mrs Ormond, who was in her 80s, died two months later.

Ahmed, 28, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court last week to two years in jail for the theft – a sentence which Mrs Ormond’s great niece says is not long enough.

Kim Thomas said she moved Mrs Ormond into the care home and knew she had a bag and a handbag with her.

“The care home did not take an inventory of her possessions when she arrived,” claimed Mrs Thomas, 31, from Cwmbran.

“That gave the thief free rein. My great aunt paid hundreds of pounds a month to charity and left £90,000 to charity in her will.

“She was the kindest, most lovely women and if (Ahmed) had asked her for money she would’ve given it to her.”

Mrs Thomas’ father, Stephen Jones, 61, received Mrs Ormond’s bank statements in the post and the main activity on the account was a direct debit to pay the care home fees.

“We knew there was a lot of money in there but neither me, my father nor my great aunt knew the PIN number for the card,” said Mrs Thomas.

“We had a letter from the care home saying the direct debit had bounced, so my dad went through the statements and my great aunt was around £500 overdrawn.”

Transactions had been made at Asian food and clothes shops in the West Midlands, but the family had no idea who was responsible.

“I am fuming with the care home because not once have they ever acknowledged that this happened under their roof,” said Mrs Thomas. “There has been no phone call to myself or my father, no apology.”

Lloyds TSB replaced the stolen money within two days, but for the family, the two-year legal case has never been about the money.

“It’s the fact that someone could have done that to someone who was so kind,” said Mrs Thomas. “It’s disgusting how (Ahmed) took advantage.

“I think (the judge) should have made more of an example of her, I don’t think that’s enough, not that anything can be done about it now. I’m glad she got a sentence.”

Business manager at Llanyravon Court, Helen Orphan, said in a statement: “Llanyravon Court was shocked and horrified to learn of the allegations.

“The home has cooperated at every stage of the long and complicated investigations by the local authorities and police.

“During the investigations the home was limited by the Protection of Vulnerable Adults process as to the comments and information we could make available.

“We are very sorry that this happened to Mrs Ormond while she was in our care.”