Boss Of Care Home Pilfered Woman’s Savings

A TRUSTED care home boss is behind bars today after fleecing a frail dementia sufferer out of more than £10,000.

Lynne Partington abused her position as manager of Kingsbury House Care Home, Tynemouth, to siphon off money from 95-year-old Olive Turnbull’s account.

Kind-hearted Mrs Turnbull didn’t even realise Partington was plundering her savings until a relative noticed large sums of money were inexplicably being withdrawn.

Now 42-year-old Partington, of Alston Close, Wallsend, has been jailed for 12 months at Newcastle Crown Court.

Judge Brian Forster told her: “You became involved in a course of conduct which had the affect of plundering her bank account.

“The lady suffered from progressive dementia and Partington presented cheques to her to sign.

“Anyone who takes advantage of elderly members of the community in their care commit very serious offences.

“The courts have a duty to deter anyone who may think about acting in this way.”

Partington stole £10,700 between June and September 2007 by getting Mrs Turnbull to sign cheques she had written out.

The care boss pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud by abuse of position.

Robert Adams, prosecuting, said: “The defendant completed the cheques herself then got the complainant to sign them. The defendant then cashed them into her own account.

“It’s the crown’s case that this was an appalling breach of trust.

“She was not only a care worker at the home, she was the manager of it and the victim was particularly vulnerable.”

Partington had worked at the home since 1996, working her way up from assistant manager to the top.

Paul Cross, defending, said: “It started with her paying money in as an act of kindness but this escalated.

“It started out not being a dishonest venture but it soon became one.

“As a result of this case she has lost everything.”