Carer stole to gamble

Carer stole to gamble

A shamed charity worker stole almost £3,500 from two severely disabled men he was supposed to be caring for and blew it on a gambling addiction.


Charles Morris, 42, worked as a project worker for Integrate, a Preston-based charity which provides community support to adults with learning difficulties.

Judge Anthony Russell, who sentenced Morris to a suspended jail term and 120 hours’ unpaid work, said: “This was a very mean offence committed by you, a serious breach of the trust placed in you by Integrate, and in particular by people being assisted by that organisation and whose interests should have been at the forefront of your mind.”

The two victims, a man in his 20s and an older man, were in the public gallery to watch Morris being sentenced.

Preston Crown Court heard that on August 15 last year, the charity received a phone call from Morris’s partner, with a further call the following day, asking if he had turned up for work.

On the same day, a message was received from one of his co-workers that there were irregularities in the books for two clients.

Jeremy Groutsmith, prosecuting, said: “As part of his employment the defendant was required to withdraw cash for the charity’s service users.

“One man, in his 20s, has severe learning difficulties and has suffered from abuse and neglect in the past.

“The withdrawals amounted to £2,250 in total and the sums were taken out over 13 occasions.

“An older man also had £1,140 taken.”

He added how the older man had written in a personal impact statement that he worried about the theft and that he felt “let down” by Morris.

Similarly the younger victim had “become stressed” about what had happened and worried about paying his bills.

The court heard the charity reimbursed both victims.

Morris, who lives in the city, went missing for four weeks after the discrepancies were noticed and slept rough on the streets.

Beverley Hackett, defending, said: “The theft is from those who are most vulnerable in our society. The defendant acknowledges – and is deeply, deeply ashamed of – his behaviour. He understand people who relied in him, those he became close to, those who looked up to him, have been deeply hurt and wounded.”

She explained how at the time of the offences coming to light he left Preston and was on the streets for four weeks before handing himself in at a police station in York.

She added: “He presented himself to his GP, recognising the impact of his gambling addiction was clearly hurting others.”

The court heard he was from a respectable family and had no previous convictions.

Judge Russell said: “The one thing that will save you from prison is that you have recognised the problem you have and taken steps to address that problem.”

Morris was ordered to pay back £3,691.85 compensation to Integrate and £500 to each of his victims.

Both victims were too distressed to speak after the case.