Care home worker avoids jail after stealing thousands from resident, 93

A care home assistant who stole thousands of pounds from an elderly resident in her charge has avoided jail.

Angela McIntyre was handed a 12-month prison term, suspended for two years, when she was found guilty of obtaining money by fraud, Met Police said.

The 55-year-old, of Elephant and Castle in east London, was working at a care home in Chelsea when she began using blank cheques from the 93-year-old victim’s account to pay for personal shopping.

But McIntyre instead provided the victim with items she found at the care home and pocketed the cash.

In total, 23 cheques amounting to £4,800 had been cashed.

McIntyre was given a lifetime ban for working in the care industry when she was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, police confirmed. She was also ordered to pay £50 a month in compensation for two years – amounting to a fraction of the sum she stole.

The alarm was raised when the victim’s bank became concerned about suspicious activity on her account.

Pc Colin McMeekin, said: “McIntyre abused her position of trust and care to defraud a vulnerable woman.

“She continued with her scam over many months and was stopped after we were alerted by the bank. The victim was extremely shocked following this discovery.

“This case shows that anyone who is afforded a position of trust over vulnerable adults and breaches that trust in a criminal manner will be vigorously pursued and brought to justice by the relevant authorities.”

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