Wrexham Social Worker Stole £90k from Vulnerable Clients

A Wrexham social worker has admitted stealing £90,000 from three vulnerable clients.

Karen Kersey-Smith, 47, of Wheat Close, Gwersyllt, admitted three charges of theft when she appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court earlier today.

Theft is an either way offence contrary to section 1 of the Theft Act 1968. The maximum penalty for theft is 7 years in custody. We have previously written an article on the legalities surrounding theft.

The offences took place between November 2015 and September 2017, when Kersey-Smith was employed as a social worker with Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Magistrates heard that Kersey-Smith took advantage of vulnerable clients who entrusted her to carry out financial transactions and errands on their behalf.

The first victim, who was fleeced to the tune of £41,494.38 over the course of two years, had poor eyesight and would rely on Keysey-Smith to make payments on her behalf.

The second victim, who mistakenly trusted Kersey-Smith with her bank card, had £27,642.74 stolen over the course of 15 months.

The third victim, who lacked mental capacity, had £21,191.86 stolen over a period of 15 months.

The total amount stolen was £90,328.98.

Alison Warburton, prosecuting, told the court that Kersey-Smith had been enjoying lavish holidays at the expense of her victims.

When interviewed by police, Kersey-Smith initially only admitted the £41k theft and claimed she used the money to put into charity boxes such as Cancer Research, after her father had recently been diagnosed with cancer.

She said she had £10,000 in her savings account and could use that to repay some of the money taken.

When further interviewed, she again did not admit the other two offences, saying she "did not even know" them.

Given the seriousness of the offences, Magistrates' declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Chester Crown Court for sentencing.

Magistrates' ordered the completion of pre-sentence and medical reports in preparation for that hearing on 14th February 2020.

Kersey-Smith, who is currently suspended from practising as a social worker, was granted unconditional bail until then.

Update (4/6/2020): Kersey-Smith appeared at Liverpool Crown Court earlier today, where she was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment.