Carers stole life savings of man, 82

Jan 25 2008 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

A HOME help fleeced a frail pensioner out of his life savings and squandered it on cocaine, a court heard yesterday.

Kim Beaton had been privately hired to assist the 82-year-old victim, who was in failing health and living alone on Tyneside.

But instead she abused her position of trust by using his pin number to syphon more than £27,000 from his bank account, removing money daily from cash machines until he was overdrawn.

She hid her dishonesty by intercepting the victim’s bank statements as they arrived in the post, said Tony Glover, prosecuting at Newcastle Crown Court.

And with another home help, Jacqueline Kerr, who was recruited shortly before the fraud was discovered, she even stole and sold an OBE medal awarded to the victim’s father.

The two women, who also used the victim’s credit card to buy goods from stores including two mobile phones, were arrested after one of the pensioner’s neighbours contacted police.

Mr Glover said a third woman, whom Beaton claimed had introduced her to the fraud, had been investigated by police, but it was decided there was insufficient evidence to prosecute her.

Asked what she had spent the money on, Beaton, 51, told officers: “A few odds and ends and toot.” Mr Glover said: “She said she was using the card, getting £300 every day, and spent every penny on drugs.” He said when it was pointed out to her she had stolen an 82-year-old man’s life savings, she had replied: “I know, it’s a disgrace. The money was just there.”

Beaton, of Orpington Avenue, Walker, Newcastle, was jailed for a year after admitting theft, false representation and fraud by abuse of her position as home help. Prosecutors accepted her claim that the first £9,000 she stole was shared with the woman she says introduced her to the fraudulent scheme.

Kerr, 25, of Mostyne Green, Kenton, Newcastle, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended 18 months, and 150 hours of unpaid work after admitting theft, false representation and two counts of fraud by abuse of her position.

Passing sentence, Recorder Ben Nolan told them: “It is difficult to imagine a more severe breach of trust than this was.”

In a victim impact statement, the pensioner, who lived in Tynemouth, spoke of his feelings of betrayal and shock. “I have invited these people into my home and paid their wage,” he said. “In return, they have taken advantage of my vulnerability and betrayed my trust by stealing from me.

“They have systematically drained my bank account of my life savings of £25,000 while portraying the image that they cared for me and were my friends. I feel very bitter. It has destroyed my trust in people.”