Care home manager jailed for stealing thousands from 97-year-old woman

A care home manager has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after stealing thousands of pounds from a 97-year-old woman.

Carleen Wilkins, who was manager at a Handsworth Wood care home in Birmingham, used her position to steal the woman's bank card and withdrew hundreds of pounds from the account every day for more than a year.

Wilkins used the cash to pay off her debts and payday loans. She gambled some of the money at casinos.

Her victim was living in the care home at the time, and had no idea she had a bank card or a pin to access her account.

Wilkins was arrested after she escorted the woman to the bank in February 2016.

The branch became suspicious and conducted checks which found daily ATM withdrawals over a 12 month period- a total well over £90,000. Staff were duly concerned as the customer did not bank by card and immediately alerted police.

Wilkins admitted withdrawing the cash, but initially but denied any wrongdoing. She claimed she withdrew money for the victim because she didn't trust the bank. She also said her victim spent the the cash on bottles of sherry.

Wilkins later pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to 31 months at Birmingham Crown Court