Care home manager jailed for stealing from residents (From Milford Mercury)

Care home manager jailed for stealing from residents

11:00am Thursday 24th September 2009 in News

Susan Thomas pictured receiving an award at the 2007 Pembrokeshire Business Awards.

The former manager of a care home who plundered the accounts of six residents – leaving one unable to pay for her own funeral – has been jailed.

Susan Elizabeth Thomas, aged 43, admitted six offences of theft at the Elliots Hill care home, in Haverfordwest, totalling £18,564.

David Lindsay, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court how Thomas had been sacked by the home after financial irregularities came to light and a police investigation began.

Mr Lindsay said the 19 residents received income from pensions and other sources and Thomas was expected to manage their finances, deducting the correct fees for their care.

The remainder should have been placed into deposit boxes, one for each resident, held in a safe.

Mr Lindsay said that because the residents tended to spend very little, the money quickly accumulated. According to the system in place, when residents’ savings reached £200 the money should have been transferred to a Halifax building society account in their individual names.

During the police investigation, it emerged that the Halifax had received no deposits since 2004.

A resident who tried to make a withdrawal from his Halifax account found there was insufficient funds. When Thomas was arrested she was found to be in possession of his cash card and his PIN number. Checks showed that over a period £8,880 had been withdrawn in cash.

When another of Thomas’ victims died it was found there was so little money in her account there was not enough even to pay for her funeral.

Mr Lindsay said when Thomas, of Priory Hill, Cromwell Road, Milford Haven, was arrested she at first denied taking any money. But in later interviews she made admissions.

He said Dyfed-Powys Police had carried out a financial investigation to assess if any of the stolen money could be recovered, but it appeared that Thomas was broke.

The owner of the home, Keith Kelso, told police Thomas’ thefts were a betrayal of trust he found hard to describe.

Her barrister Dyfed Thomas said Thomas had spent the money on day to day living expenses and not holidays or luxuries.

Judge Huw Davies said Thomas had “breached a high degree of trust.”

“The residents lived modestly and made little demands on their money. What little they had you took from them. You simply helped yourself and stopped only when you came under suspicion.”

Thomas was jailed for 14 months.