Care worker in £11,000 con from pensioner

A care worker fleeced an elderly client out of thousands of pounds and gave the money to her drug addict son, a court heard.

Lynda Greatrix stole more than £11,000 from 89-year-old Mrs Margaret Phillips, of Hillcroft Park, Stafford, who died a year after the thefts were discovered.

Greatrix, aged 58, of Sycamore Crescent, Brereton, admitted two charges of fraud but walked free from court yesterday.

She was given a nine month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid community work. She was also ordered to forfeit £12,390 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Greatrix had looked after Mrs Phillips for around six years before being forced to quit the role due to ill-health. However she continued to visit the pensioner's home "as a friend", Mr Paul Farrow, prosecuting, told Stafford Crown Court.

Her deception came to light in August last year when a £1,200 bill to a private nursing agency was not paid. Greatrix went to the company's office with an envelope containing £1,200 in an attempt to pay the invoice and told staff not to tell Mrs Phillips' daughter.

But Mrs Phillips' daughter, Mrs Ann Lewis-Williams, had become suspicious and her mother confirmed she had not authorised a £1,200 cash withdrawal.

Recorder Mr William Ruddick told Greatrix: "She put her trust in you and your conduct amounted to a serious breach of trust. This was shameful conduct."

The judge branded Greatrix's giving money to her drug addict son as "folly." "It wasn't kindness – instead of being resolute, you acceded to his demands," he said.

Mrs Phillips' grandson Mark Lewis-Williams, who lives in London, said: "We believe she should have been imprisoned for what she did to our family."