Carer accused of theft from pensioner
16 October 2008
A carer has gone on trial accused of stealing more than £19,000 from a frail and vulnerable 77 year old women she was supposed to be looking after.
Later, when quizzed about the money Christine Townsend is alleged to have said it was given to her as a wedding present by elderly June Marden.The existence of the money is said to have come to light after Miss Townsend petitioned for bankruptcy.
At Luton crown court Miss Townsend, 54, now of New Road, Clifton but who at the time was living in Saint Francis Court, Shefford, plead not guilty to two counts of stealing money from the pensioner.At the start of the trial the jury heard Mrs Marden, from Sandy, died in January of this year aged 81.Andrew Evans, prosecuting, said the theft of the money took place in April 2004.
Mr Evans, prosecuting the case on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, formerly known as the Department of Trade and Industry, said since 1996 social services had provided the Mardens with carers.The actual help was provided by a company known as Medico Nursing and Health Care, who employed the defendant as a part time carer.
The pensioner told her daughter she had been upset by the visits and did not like leaving her home because the defendant would be waiting outside.Mr Evans said the visits to Mrs Marden's home were attempts by Miss Townsend to "prime her to come up with a story".The court heard in August 2006 Miss Townsend was interviewed at Ampthill Police station by a D.T.I. investigator and again repeated that Mrs Marden had given her the money as a wedding gift.
Abridged
SOURCE: Biggleswade Today - SG, UK
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