A carer stole more than £5,000 from her disabled client to fund her own lifestyle.
Alison James, aged 37, withdrew large sums of money from her victim’s bank account between December 2020 and September 2021.
A court heard she used her client’s bank card to withdraw and pocket cash, whilst also using it for her own benefit.
Police investigated after a care provider raised suspicions that James had been acting dishonestly.
James initially denied wrongdoing.
However, when presented with evidence she admitted she had stolen vast sums from the client.
James, of Alwyn Road, Aspley, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on 14 March after pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
She was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,500 compensation.
Detective Sergeant Thomas Rawlings, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a very sad case which saw a highly vulnerable woman lose money.
“The victim had difficulty communicating due to her health and James exploited this. She was in a position of trust but was willing to defraud the victim on several occasions for her own personal gain.
“I hope this case sends a message that Nottinghamshire Police takes fraud and financial abuse really seriously and we investigate all reports we receive thoroughly.
“We’re glad that we were able to bring James before the courts and that she’s now been held to account for her crimes.”
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