Monday, March 28, 2011

CCTV pictures captured carer stealing from man, 71, she was supposed to be helping

A care worker stole cash from a 71-year-old man she was supposed to be helping.

The victim's son became suspicious when it became apparent money was sometimes missing after Maxine Singh had visited his father's Wigston home.

The pensioner kept the cash in the pockets of a jacket hanging on a door.

And when his son installed a covert camera focusing on the jacket, it captured footage of Singh rummaging through the pockets and taking money.

Tara Kelly, prosecuting at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, said the pensioner had a variety of health problems and at the end of 2009 engaged the assistance of carers, arranged through social services with private company, Home Call.

She said Singh – who has previous convictions for theft and fraud and received a suspended jail sentence in 1989 – was one of the carers who regularly visited.

The son estimated about �600 was unaccounted for, but Singh claimed in interview she had taken about �100. The 51-year-old grandmother was charged only with the thefts that were captured on the son's CCTV camera.

Footage of Singh rummaging through the pockets and taking cash was shown in court.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of theft, involving about �25, and attempted theft in June last year.

Ms Kelly said: "In relation to attempted theft, there were five occasions when she can be seen in footage going through the pockets in July. In interview, Singh initially denied taking any money, but after the CCTV footage was disclosed she admitted taking money."

Justine Robinson, mitigating, said she took the money to pay bills and was sorry for what she did.

She added: "She was suffering from anxiety and depression.

"She's now gone to her GP and has been referred for psychological treatment."

Singh, of Bartholomew Street, Highfields, Leicester, wept during the case and told the judge: "Can I just say I'm very sorry."

Recorder Lynn Tayton QC said: "You were in a position of trust and you abused that trust on a number of occasions."

Singh was sentenced to 51 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for two years, with one year of supervision and a requirement to attend a women's anger management programme.

After the case the victim's son, Keith Tailby, 47, a medical technician, of Ravenstone, near Coalville, said he bought two motion-activated cameras to capture whatever was going on inside his father's home after he became suspicious.

He said: "I set them to watch the jacket where dad kept his money. After a couple of days I took one home to view the film.

"She was on there, sticking her hand into his pocket and taking money.

"I was horrified."

He added: "I am absolutely disgusted that she could do that to an old man who trusted her."

Mr Tailby said his father had suffered a heart attack since the police investigation began.

He added: "The whole thing has devastated him."



Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503348/s/13add185/l/0L0Sthisisleicestershire0O0Cnews0CCCTV0Epictures0Ecaptured0Ecarer0Estealing0EOAP0Carticle0E33781780Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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