A north-east carer carried out an “immense breach of trust” when she stole thousands of pounds from a vulnerable woman with learning difficulties.
Joanne Cresswell, 45, withdrew more than £7,600 while acting as the main carer for the woman over a six month period – repeatedly using her bank card at cash machines across Grampian.
The Macduff mother of five kept the fact that she had access to the woman’s bank card from employers, Mears Care Scotland, as she carried out the scam between August 28 2018 and February 23 2019.
The plot was only discovered when a family member of the victim viewed bank statements.
None of the money taken by Cresswell was able to be recovered.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard the 45-year-old was only able to carry out the theft due to the “high level of trust” awarded to her by the woman’s family.
Cresswell pleaded guilty to a charge of theft, using the woman’s bank card to take a total of £7,650 from cash machines at Barclay’s Bank, Fraserburgh, Tesco Superstore in Buckie and at a number of locations in Banff.
Other bank machines across the north-east were also used by Cresswell to withdraw cash.
Carer admitted theft after being told police had been informed of withdrawals
Fiscal depute Lynne MacVicar told the court: “On February 23 2019 the complainer’s family member viewed a bank statement, which revealed two cash withdrawals of £300 – she had not authorised these withdrawals under her power of attorney.
“She went to the Clydesdale Bank in Turriff and was told that there had been another withdrawal of £300 from the account that day.
“A few days later she told the accused that she had contacted the police regarding the money missing from the complainer’s account – at that point, she did not suspect the accused of taking the money because the family trusted her.
“The next day she received a text message from the accused where she admitted stealing the money and asked her to stop the police from becoming involved.
“The accused then sent a further three text messages expressing remorse and pleading to meet her to discuss the matter.”
Cresswell’s manager then called her to ask if she was responsible and she admitted the theft.
She emailed Mears Care the following day to resign and said she knew she’d committed “a serious wrong” against the woman.
Cresswell later attended Banff Police Station where she admitted stealing only £900 and stating she was “ashamed” of her actions.
‘She was under a huge amount of stress at home due to financial worries’
Defence agent Debbie Wilson told the court that Cresswell had penned an apology letter to her victim and said her client had been suffering from financial pressures at the time.
She added: “Mrs Cresswell couldn’t believe what she had done but she’s never denied doing it.
“She was under a huge amount of stress at home due to financial worries and didn’t want to bring these things up at work.
“It was an immense breach of trust. She has tried a couple of times to repay the money but she just hasn’t got the credit as she only works part-time.”
Sherriff Andrew Miller told Cresswell: “You were employed as the main carer to this vulnerable woman who had learning difficulties and was dependent upon you.
“It was that dependency and that closeness that ultimately gave you access to this lady’s bank card and pin number – which demonstrates the level of trust that this lady’s family had in you.
“This was trust that was breached and abused by you and you took advantage of the opportunity to use it for your own gain.”
Sheriff Miller sentenced Cresswell, of Myrus Circle, Macduff, to a community payback order with a 12-month supervision requirement and ordered her to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.
A spokesman for Mears Care said: “Mears were informed of this crime in February 2019, and we immediately suspended Joanne Creswell.
“Following investigation we terminated her employment with immediate effect.
“For someone in such a position of trust to commit this crime is unconscionable and we are pleased that, following the police investigation, this matter has reached court where it rightly belongs.”
