Gambling Addict steals from dementia patient

No jail for carer who stole from her patient

A CARER who stole thousands of pounds from the resident of a home where she worked blamed a gambling addiction for her crimes.

Nichola Readman emptied the victim’s bank account of more than £10,000 during a four-month thieving spell, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Mother-of-three Readman had worked at Grove Lodge in Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, for one month before she started stealing.

She was the primary carer for the resident – a man in his late-40s with mild dementia – and part of her role was to help him with his finances.

But the court heard how the crooked 39-year-old stole his bank card, hid it in her car and regularly used it to withdraw large sums of money.

Readman stopped stealing only when a cashpoint machine failed to return the card, and after her boss began to suspect foul play in April.

Care home manager Beverley Grimes contacted the resident’s bank after seeing a statement from his account and noticing the withdrawals.

Bank officials – who have since refunded the missing money – suggested Ms Grimes inform the police, and Readman was arrested.

Yesterday, she was spared a prison sentence after a judge heard she had never been in trouble and immediately confessed to police.

Readman, of Westray, Marton, Middlesbrough, admitted 12 charges of fraud and asked for a further 30 offences to be taken into consideration.

Brian Russell, in mitigation, told the court: “It is the evils of gambling that overcame her and that’s why she took this money.”

The court heard that since Readman was dismissed from the home, she has landed a full-time job and is tackling her addiction.

Judge Michael Taylor described the offences as a persistent breach of trust and a pattern which led to a total of £10,952 being taken.

Readman was given a ninemonth prison sentence, suspended for two years, with two years of Probation Service supervision.

Warning her she faced jail if she offended again, the judge told her: “You will never have such a chance again in the future.”