Yahoo News Carer caught on camera stealing money out of elderly dementia patient's purse
A carer who was caught on camera stealing money from an elderly dementia sufferer has avoided a jail sentence.
Sophy Retallick was handed a 12-week suspended sentence after she was caught on CCTV taking money from the purse of an 83-year-old known only as Ivy.
Truro Magistrates’ Court heard that at the end of last year Ivy’s family – who have protected her identity – started to notice that money was going missing from her purse.
Her concerned son installed CCTV cameras in her home in Truro, Cornwall, and footage showed Retallick taking Ivy’s purse from a windowsill in the kitchen.
Other incidents saw the carer putting her hand in the woman’s handbag and removing something and again removing the purse from the kitchen windowsill.
The family reported her to police and she admitted her crimes to police, telling officers: “I wanted to stop, but I couldn’t help myself.”
Retallick, 30, pleaded guilty to theft at Truro Magistrates’ Court and was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.
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She must also complete 80 hours of unpaid work, as well as ten rehabilitation activity requirement sessions as well as paying £250 in compensation to the victim, £85 court costs and a £110 victim surcharge.
In mitigation, solicitor Patrick Haynes said when Retallick’s husband got a new job, the increase in come affected their benefits and she had to go back to work to cover the cost of medication for manic depression and severe asthma.
“She went back into work not with an intention to steal,” he said. “Sadly such was her condition that she felt she had no option but to do that.
“She was caught, interviewed and completely honest and open with police.”
Speaking after the hearing, Ivy’s son said: “It was an appalling crime, my mother has worked hard all her life and she has little savings.
“The idea that someone who had access to her house was taking the money was very upsetting for us all.
“The worst thing I think is that in the video, the defendant is seen chatting away to my mother while pocketing the cash.
“We can see the magistrates have taken this really seriously, and it sends a message to those in positions of trust.
“Most carers do a fantastic job and this woman has brought her profession into disrepute, which the magistrates have recognised.”
