A CARE worker who stole more than £2,000 from a vulnerable pensioner he was looking after has been jailed for six months.
Michael Swinfield-Swift, who had got himself into debt by "living beyond his means", used the man's bank card to make nine withdrawals last year while helping look after the 77-year-old in accommodation in Swinburne Street, Derby.
Derby Crown Court heard that Lifeways, which provides supported living and had employed Swinfield-Swift at the time as a support worker, launched an investigation on September 16.
The company discovered withdrawals had been made from the man's NatWest account but had not been logged, as was the usual protocol. Swinfield-Swift was immediately suspended.
Alex Wolfson, prosecuting, said: "He had been working there for nearly two years. He said he was in debt and thought it was an easy way out. He admitted the man was vulnerable and was ashamed of what he had done."
Jailing the 23-year-old, who admitted nine counts of theft, Judge John Wait said: "This is a very sad case – you are a young man, you have not been in trouble before, you have worked in a variety of employment, honestly, and up until this time enjoyed positively good character through your charity work and as a youth worker."
But he said Swinfield-Swift had been living beyond his means and accumulated debts. Judge Wait said: "What you did with your money I don't know – I don't expect it was high living."
He said that an immediate jail term was the only sentence he could impose for "such callous stealing from someone so vulnerable".
Nicola Hunter, in mitigation, said: "He is embarrassed. He is upset by the fact he was somebody of good character and now somebody who cannot be trusted.
"When he got this job, he had believed it was a long-term job. As a result, he took out various contracts on a phone and laptop and led a lifestyle of somebody who had secure employment."
She said that, after six months, he had lost that job and could no longer meet his payments. "That was the start of his debt problems," said Miss Hunter.
"He took out money with Wonga and the Money Shop and they are known for having extortionately high interest rates unless one pays them back quickly."
A spokesman for Lifeways, in Leopold Street, Derby said: "We have robust procedures to ensure that our clients' accounts are regularly checked. When we noticed financial irregularities in this case, we alerted the police."
"Michael Swinfield-Smith was immediately suspended and was sacked following a disciplinary hearing. We are appalled by his behaviour and do not tolerate this in our company."
In March, support worker Deborah Vernon, 49, of Merlin Green, Sinfin, was given an 18-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, after she admitted stealing £290 from three men in a Lifeways care home in Derby.
