Carer Employed To Help "Vulnerable" Woman Raided Her Bank Account Of £10K

Patricia Wilson

A carer employed by Merton council to look after a “vulnerable” woman despite having a conviction for child cruelty helped herself to over £10,000 from the victim's bank account.

Patricia Wilson, 55, of 32 Linton Close, Mitcham, forged a “third party notice” which purportedly gave her permission to withdraw the funds, which was never properly checked by the Nationwide bank.

She pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation between January 7 and March 16, 2013, namely transferring authority to withdraw a total of £10,255.39 to herself.

Prosecutor Miss Roz Wardell told Wimbledon Magistrates Court: “The victim is a vulnerable person unable to deal with her affairs. Mrs Wilson attended the Nationwide in Mitcham, pretending to be her guardian with a power of attorney already set-up.”

It was many months before the fraud was discovered and police identified Wilson, who was employed to provide cooking, cleaning and shopping services four days a week at the victim's address in Jessop Place, Tramway Path, Mitcham, as the main suspect.

In a phone conversation with the victim Wilson confessed: “I did it, I took the money.”

Miss Wardell added: “She said she would pay back the money and begged the victim not to call the police.”

Wilson, who has previous convictions for dishonesty, told police she spent the money on a new tumble dryer and clothes for her grandchildren. She also once received a suspended sentence for child cruelty.

She was sentenced to twenty-six weeks imprisonment, suspended for twelve months, must comply with a six-month curfew and ordered to pay £5,000 compensation.