Battersea care home manager spared jail because of dependant son

A care home manager who stole nearly £4,000 from an elderly dementia patient was spared jail because she has a seven-month-old baby to look after.

Asha Isserheeah, of Valentine Circus, Dagenham, was manager at the Ashley House carehome in Battersea, where she met the 81-year-old woman.

After befriending her, Isserheeah made her write several cheques out to her and friends, totalling £3,909.

She was caught after the elderly patient was moved to another carehome, where staff noticed discrepancies in her bank account.

Isserheeah was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday after earlier pleading guilty to seven counts of fraud.

Her defence lawyer said Isserheeah was a single mum who was solely responsible for her seven-month-old boy, who would likely to go into care with social services if she was jailed.

Judge Paul Dodson said while the offence would normally carry a mandatory prison term, he had to consider Isserheeah’s child.

“I have to balance the benefit to society and the effect on your son”, he said. “The separation will be detrimental. It is for him, not for you, that I do this.”

After sentencing Isserheeah to six months in custody, suspended for two years, and ordering her to complete 40 hours community service, he added: “You took money as you did from a lady who was 80 at the time, and who couldn’t think for herself and couldn’t look after herself.

“To abuse your position to steal her money is despicable.”

He also ordered her to pay back £1,400 to the woman, adding “morally” she should pay back all of it.

Isserheeah said she would sell her car and furniture to pay back the full amount.