A CARER stole a dementia sufferer’s debit card details and used them to pay a parking fine.

Morgan Coombs, 20, of Ludchurch, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation when she appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday (June 23).

In addition to paying her £70 parking fine, Coombs also used the 65-year-old's card to purchase goods totalling £160.

Mrs Linda Baker, prosecuting, said Coombs took the details while employed as a care worker for Pembroke Dock-based Prestige Care, but committed the offence at a later date.

“She worked for the company between January and June 2014. She would visit elderly patients at their home addresses. [The victim] is one of the people Coombs visited,” Mrs Baker explained, adding that the woman suffered from a “form of dementia” which left her “very vulnerable”.

“The fraud came to light when [the woman] was admitted to full-time residential care, and her son was granted full power of attorney,” said the prosecutor. “He was monitoring his mother’s account on-line and saw that two purchases had been made on her card.”

After being arrested, Coombs – who has a conditional caution for a similar offence - admitted to having made the fraudulent payments.

Michael Kellegher, defending, said his client was “under no illusions as to the seriousness of the offence”.

“She is very sorry for what she has done. She has a permanent job and is able to pay compensation to the victim,” he added.

Magistrates sentenced Coombs to a 16 week sentence, suspended for 12 months, and a 12 month community order with supervision including 60 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay £230 compensation to her victim, plus costs and a surcharge totalling £165.