A carer who repeated stole from an elderly client has narrowly avoided an immediate custodial sentence.
Kelly Harris, 39, of Buxton Road, Diss previously admitted four counts of theft at Norwich Magistrates' Court. She was sentenced earlier today, after a month-long adjournment for the preparation of reports.
We first wrote about this case last month, but are providing an update now that Harris has been sentenced.
Harris was caring for 94 year-old Raymond Barker when £200 disappeared from his wallet last October. Further money was taken from Mr Barker's wallet in December and his son Martin, who had given him the money, reported the matter to the police.
The police installed covert camera equipment in Mr Barker's assisted living flat, which caught Harris red-handed in the act of stealing from his wallet. The shamed carer eventually admitted taking at least £600 from Mr Barker over the months.
Today's bench clearly agreed with our earlier suggestion that Harris' offences had crossed the custody threshold. However, taking everything into account, Magistrates decided to suspend the 12 month sentence for 2 years, instead of sending Harris directly to prison.
She was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work, pay £420 in compensation and a £115 victim surcharge.
Presiding Justice Louise Barber said: "This court takes an extremely dim view of what you have done."
Don't we all?!
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