Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Partly sunnyNews
| 
Submit Comments
Ripped off: pensioner Barbara Howard and her daughter Victoria
Care worker swindled thousands from OAP
Exclusive by Miles Skinner20/ 2/2008
THIS vulnerable pensioner was swindled out of thousands of pounds by the carer she relied on for support.
Seventy-six year old Barbara Howard, who lives at Reinbek Nursing Home in Davenport, lost £4,000 to a care assistant she trustingly let in and out of her room every day.
Abusing the trust of the confused, elderly woman, Leanne Ellis of Higher Bents Lane, Bredbury took Mrs Howard’s bank card from the sideboard, bought herself a laptop and set about a five-month internet spending spree.
It began in October 2006 and was only uncovered when Barbara’s 78-year-old sister checked her bank statements the following Easter.
And although Ellis, 24, had long-since left her position at the Davenport home, she was tracked down by police after ordering the laptop to be delivered to her home address in Bredbury.
Other purchases included Christmas presents for friends, underwear, a signed Liverpool shirt and tickets for a Liverpool match.
She pleaded guilty to making false representations for personal gain and obtaining property by deception at Minshull Street Crown last Friday.
Ellis was sentenced to six months imprisonment - suspended for two years - and given a two-year supervision order.
Victoria Howard, Barbara’s daughter, told us:
"Not only has she blighted her own life - she will never be able to work in the care industry again - but it’s had a knock-on effect on our family.
"She was foolish and selfish and has upset my mother and aunt greatly.
"It’s not been at all easy," added the single mother of six. But mum is a tough old thing, she’s still smiling."
Barbara, a frugal former civil servant and accounts clerk, had lived on Brinnington Drive in Davenport before moving to Reinbeck, where she has spent the last three years.
She has been affected by a number of mini strokes.
Staff at the home are said to be disgusted by their former colleagues actions.
Victoria added: "Mum is very comfortable with the rest of her carers and the senior staff at the home were most helpful. Most people who go into to the care industry do so for the benefit of those they’re caring for.
"I think this was a very unpleasant one-off incident that snowballed because a greedy girl was not caught out earlier."
Christine Rush, chief executive for Borough Care, which owns Reinbek, on Bramhall Lane, said: "This is a very rare thing to happen and is the first case one of our employees has been convicted of dishonesty.
"As far as we are concerned, the law has taken its course.
"Every one of our employees is vetted and police checked - as was this person.
"We also took up her references and everything was clean.
"You cannot predict when someone may practise dishonesty for possibly the first time."
Most recent 2 of 5 user comments
23/02/2008 at 17:47
Got an opinion you want to share?| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| AA | 7.9% |
| Sainsbury's Personal Loan | 8.2% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Abbey Personal Loan | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
4.50% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
1.75% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
2.25% |
17/03/2008 at 16:42