Carer cheated vulnerable adults in their 60s out of almost £7,000

Ms Sammiejo Cooper, 33, of Shaw Road, Boston admitted two offences of committing fraud by false representation when she appeared at the town's magistrates court.

Prosecuting, Kate Minihane said the two victims in the case were vulnerable adults, both in their 60s, living in independent flats at Joy Paine Close in Boston.

She said they were both supported by care support workers who went into their flats to help with everyday living, including withdrawing money from their bank accounts and doing their shopping for them.

Ms Minihane said that in the case of one of the victims, Cooper was supposed to take her card once a week, withdraw £100 from her bank account and do her shopping and then hand back the card and any change.

She said that the second victim went with her carer, either Cooper or another one, and withdraw £2-300 from the post office, but never went on her own.

Ms Minihane said several unusual withdrawals were made and enquiries with the two banks revealed that a total of £3,884 had been taken illegally from one and £3,010 from the other.

She said Cooper initially denied taking any money other than on their instructions to do the shopping but later admitted she did take money for herself.

She told police she was not short of money and did not know why she had done it.

It was said that Cooper had no previous convictions but did have a previous caution for theft.

Mitigating, Lisa Elkington said Cooper wanted to pay back the money and had saved up £2,000 towards it.

She said Cooper had been in a 'very abusive relationship' and her partner had tried to take his own life, blaming Cooper.

The magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing on February 16 and ordered a report from the Probation Service.

She was granted unconditional bail.