Heartless carer stole THOUSANDS of pounds from vulnerable pensioner with Alzheimer's

Maria Yeo, 53, started the two-year scam while caring for the 86-year-old pensioner and her elderly husband.

She withdrew £57,000 from their savings, then siphoned off thousands to pay for cruises including a trip to the Norwegian fjords.

But when questioned by police, Yeo tried to explain away the missing money by saying the elderly woman liked to spend "lavishly" on food and clothing.

Yeo, a carer at All Care Ltd, of Sholing, Southampton, Hampshire, admitted fraud and was jailed for 12 months at Southampton Crown Court.

The court heard from late 2012 Yeo had secured an agreement with the pensioner to withdraw money from her accounts as her health and memory declined.

Prosecutor Mary Aspinall-Miles said Yeo's withdrawals began "accelerating" over time, rising to £1,200 for one transaction made in June 2014 - around the time the pensioner's husband died.

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She added: "It was plainly obvious to Mrs Yeo that this was wrong." Yeo and the pensioner had also visited the bank so a passbook account could be converted into a card which the prosecutor

claimed enabled more withdrawals.

In September 2014, the victim's daughter discovered large amounts of money were missing and asked her mother to hand the cards back.

Subsequent investigations revealed £57,620 had been withdrawn in total.

Investigators discovered the pensioner regularly kept cheque stubs of spending on household expenses, disproving Yeo's claims that she spent lavishly.

Prosecutors were unable to determine exactly how much was stolen but Yeo admitted she took at least £14,000 to fund the holidays and repay debts.

In a statement read out to the court, the victim's daughter said the crimes had worsened her mother's health and the pensioner now fears leaving the house or being alone.

She added: "I trusted her to care for my mother and father in difficult circumstances.

"She has devastated my mother's life. I feel guilty and berate myself." Rebecca Fairbairn, defending, said Yeo had been struggling with bankruptcy, marital difficulties and health problems,

and cares for a son with autism.

Ms Fairbairn said: "This was unsophisticated, there is genuine remorse and not a day goes by when she doesn't think of what she has done." 

Judge Gary Burrell said he had no choice to jail Yeo for a "gross breach of trust".

He added: "You took advantage of her age and health condition to take a lot of money from her savings to spend on yourself." 

"The courts must do all they can to protect the interests of our old people - particularly those with dementia and other mental health problems."

Yeo showed no emotion as she was led down to the cells, waving to her husband as she stood in the dock.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Bob Rees said it was one of the worst cases he has witnessed.

He added: "This sends out a message to people who want to exploit vulnerable people."

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