Care Worker’s Text Confession To Theft From OAPs

The deputy manager of a Derby care home stole nearly £5,000 by raiding the bank accounts of three elderly and disabled residents.

Pauline McNamara was entrusted to take vulnerable patients to the bank to withdraw cash.

But the mum-of-three would make two withdrawals – pocketing one for herself.

McNamara’s scam came to light when she confessed to the thefts in a text message which read: “Sorry, I didn’t mean to do it. I was going to put it all back… I’ll have to face my actions now.”

The 44-year-old later told police she had stolen the cash from residents at Annefield House Residential Care Home, in Littleover, to keep up with mortgage repayments.

McNamara was jailed for 18 months at Nottingham Crown Court after admitting eight counts of theft and asking for 30 others to be considered.

The offences, which involved a total of £4,980, took place between October 2006 and August 2007.

Recorder Penelope Moreland told her: “These were pitifully vulnerable people deserving of your protection and the protection of society.

“You caused these three people dreadful distress and the courts cannot overlook those kinds of offences.”

McNamara, who was deputy manager of the home, burst into tears as the sentence was read out. She could be released before Christmas and then serve the second half of her sentence on licence.

Annefield, in Burton Road, has 14 beds for elderly patients, some of whom suffer from severe learning disabilities.

Prosecutor Jonathan Cox said McNamara was one of three people allowed access to a locked safe where bank details and cash cards were kept.

“She would accompany whoever would wish to make a withdrawal and carry out two transactions.

“One would be recorded in a ledger and the other she would keep for herself,” he said.

“One of the other managers became suspicious when a bank card was found to be missing.

“The defendant was spoken to and initially denied having played any part in its disappearance.”

McNamara later confessed to a colleague in the text message.

Mr Cox told the court one of her victims, all of whom were over the age of 70, had trouble sleeping and paying her rent at the care home since the thefts.

Richard Thatcher, for McNamara, said she was ashamed of what she had done.

He said: “She feels utter shame since the series of dark events that have led to this very dark day for her and all who know her.

“They deserved and expected her attention and they didn’t get it.”

The court heard McNamara had been working in care homes since leaving school at 16.

She began stealing to meet mortgage payments, which she had struggled to pay since splitting up with her husband five years ago.

McNamara, of Harper Avenue, Littleover, now faces a proceeds of crime hearing in April, which will determine how much she benefited from crime and set an amount for her to repay.

Tony Karia, owner of the care home, pledged to reimburse all the residents in full.

He has arranged a payment plan that will start later this month.

He said: “I feel responsible, even though I am not directly responsible for taking the money.

“The safety of my residents is my top priority.”

Mr Karia said several changes had been made following the incident.

He said all transactions involving residents’ cards must now be carried out over the counter and not through a cash machine.

He also said that bank statements were now checked monthly for any irregularities and that only himself and the manager could withdraw cash on behalf of residents.

He added: “We had no idea that this was happening.

“We trusted her as much as the residents did.”