'Cold-hearted' carer who stole from 91-year-old avoids jail

A “cold-hearted” carer who stole from a vulnerable 91-year-old man has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Sarah Blackwell was caught after the pensioner’s children set up CCTV at his home in Birmingham.

Blackwell, who stole £210 from the victim, was handed a one-year sentence suspended for two years.

The 41-year-old, of Starkey Croft, Chelmsley Wood was also ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work.

Birmingham Crown Court Recorder Edward Coke told her she had shown no remorse at all.

The court heard that the pensioner was not only vulnerable because of his age but also because he was suffering from short-term memory loss.

Members of his family became suspicious when they noticed amounts of money left for him were going missing.

Richard Franck, prosecuting, said their suspicions fell on Blackwell, who worked for Blue Bird Care Solihull, and in order to find out what was going on they photographed serial numbers of notes and also installed CCTV.

On August 30 last year money was taken “literally hours” after it had been left at his home by his children and after Blackwell had attended the address.

Four days later she was captured on film taking more cash. When confronted Blackwell had claimed that on the second occasion the victim had given her the money so she could take her son out for a meal.

Mr Franck said an aggravating feature was the emotional stress caused to the family and the inconvenience and trouble caused to them in having to undertake an investigation themselves.

He said that Blackwell had even made claims against the pensioner referring to his drinking and that she had been unable to see him as a victim.

But he had taken into account that Blackwell was looking after her son who was unwell.

John Brotherton, defending, said Blackwell was of previous good character and had a strong work ethic.

“She has been working in the caring system for some 20 years. She has lost her job but is working again for Virgin Media.”

He said that she had an 18-year-old son who suffered from ADHD and who had the mental age of a 14-year-old.