Care home boss says case 'sends message'

THE BOSS of the nursing home where a carer stole more than £3,000 from an elderly resident has welcomed her suspended prison sentence.

Tina Cox, aged 47, took the bank card from the 90-year-old woman and used it repeatedly to withdraw hundreds of pounds.

Cox, of Cockington Crescent, Leigham, admitted theft of £3,600 at the Lelant Nursing Home in Mannamead between April and July.

Plymouth magistrates gave her a four-month jail term suspended for 12 months and ordered her to do 200 hours unpaid work. She must pay back all the money she stole.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013

Ian Taylor, managing director of the Pilling Care Group, which owns the home, said after the case that she had been dismissed as soon as her crimes were discovered.

He added: "This sends a very clear message out that this behaviour will not be tolerated by us or indeed any care home.

"We have got strict security procedures in place and we have tightened them further. This is a very sad case.

"This is the first time we have had anything like this in any of our homes and we hope it will be the last."

Mr Taylor said the lady had been repeatedly advised to lock her bank card in the safe.

He added: "She can become a bit confused at times, but she has not been affected by this at all."

The court heard Cox used the card to withdraw hundreds of pounds on a dozen occasions. It was three months before the thefts were noticed. Police identified her from CCTV footage at a cash machine.