Carer stole £1000 from client

1:50pm Monday 21st July 2008

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A Milford Haven woman who stole £1,000 from the man she was supposed to be caring for has been ordered to carry out unpaid work for the community.

Pauline Georgina Roberts, 31, admitted three offences of obtaining money by deception.

Swansea crown court heard today (Monday) how Roberts, formerly of Hawthorn Path, Mount Estate, but now living in Great North Road, Milford Haven, was hired by Stuart Collett to be his carer.

Patrick Griffiths, prosecuting, said Mr Collett paid her in cash but on one occasion gave her a cheque.

Roberts explained she could not cash it and Mr Collett advised her to go to a local branch of the HSBC bank and open an account.

Later, Roberts removed three blank cheques from his book and forged the payment details of £100, £150 and £750 as well as Mr Collett's signature.

She paid one of the cheques into her new account. But it was soon overdrawn so she paid the remaining two into the account of her sister, Sasha Roberts, 25, of Prescelly Place, Milford Haven.

Mr Griffiths said that after the thefts were discovered Sasha Roberts was also arrested and charged.

But she was cleared when Pauline Roberts entered pleas of guilty and admitted she had been responsible.

He said the bank had reimbursed Mr Collett.

The judge, Mr Recorder Peter Heywood, described the offences as "nasty" and a breach of the trust placed in her.

He understood that Roberts, who is now pregnant, had felt agrieved "because you had been asked to do things over and above what you were contracted to do."

Roberts was made the subject of a 12 month community service order and told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.