Care Manager Stole From Pensioner

A nursing home manager who spent five years stealing cash from an elderly resident as she lay dying from cancer has escaped a jail sentence. Kerry Smith paid back the cash, despite her 79-year-old victim dying before she saw a penny.

She admitted the offence while working at Glenhelenbank Residential Home in Luncarty, Perthshire. At Perth Sheriff Court, 27-year-old Smith was ordered to undertake 240 hours of community service.

Smith, who was a deputy manager at the home, siphoned money from the bank account of Jessie Richardson, who died in June 2006.

She was charged with embezzling £11,640 but admitted taking the reduced sum of £1,670 between 2000 and 2005.

Sheriff Robert McCreadie told Smith: “The stain on your name for such a mean and miserable offence will not go away.

“You have been shamed by this court for your immoral behaviour in respect of a 79-year-old lady. It was a despicable way to act.”

Solicitor Linda Clark, defending, said Smith, from Perth, had mounted up debts and took the cash.

“To say she is remorseful and ashamed of her actions I don’t think would do it justice,” Mrs Clark told the court.