Trusted carer is jailed for stealing from 91-year-old
October 18, 2008
A CARE worker from Derby who stole more than £21,000 from a 91-year-old woman has been jailed.
Lynn Hudson took the money from accounts belonging to Constance Austin over an 18-month period when she was her personal carer.
Derby Crown Court heard that Mrs Austin, who was partially deaf and needed a wheelchair, "worshipped" Hudson.
But the 45-year-old, of Hollowood Avenue, Littleover, was stealing cash from her, sometimes at the rate of £1,000 a week.
Dominic Shelley, prosecuting, told the court that Hudson had washed, dressed, and cooked for Mrs Austin.
He said: "Her son said she worshipped the defendant for the work she did."
The court was told that Hudson had access to Mrs Austin's bank books and pin numbers and betrayed that trust by making what Mr Shelley described as "regular and relentless withdrawals".
He said the banks had repaid the money but Mrs Austin's health had been affected and she was now living in a nursing home.
Balraj Bhatia, for Hudson, said she had got into financial difficulties and had suffered serious health problems.
He said she had become increasingly depressed and had fallen in with a group of drug users.
"Her remorse is genuine," he said. "She is ashamed and could not be more repentant."
Hudson was sent to prison for 15 months after pleading guilty to theft.
Judge David Price told her: "What you did amounts to a serious breach of trust.
"Mrs Austin was a vulnerable victim. You exploited her for about 18 months."
SOURCE: Derby Evening Telegraph
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