Carer caught red-handed stealing cash from purse of seriously ill patient - before stuffing notes down her bra

This is the moment a care worker was caught on camera stealing cash from a seriously ill patient’s purse - before hiding it in her underwear.

Nadia Summers, 24, was paid to look after housebound Lynette Nardone, 64, who suffers from a rare debilitating neuro-degenerative disease.

But when Lynette became convinced her carer was stealing from her, she installed a £1,000 CCTV system inside her Wolverhampton home.

Sure enough, shocking footage caught Summers red-handed, as she was filmed rummaging through Lynette’s handbag for cash, which she then stuffed down her bra.

The carer was later caught a further two times stealing £20 notes from the vulnerable patient's purse.

Lynette’s family contacted police, handed over the tapes and Summers has since appeared in court, where she admitted theft.

Cannock Magistrates Court heard Summers was filmed at the property in Perton, near Wolverhampton three times between November 5 and December 12 last year stealing a total of £60.

Prosecutor Giles Rowden told the court: 'She was employed as a carer for a vulnerable person whose abilities are limited.

'On November 4 the victim came out of hospital. She realised the following day that money was missing from her purse.

'It became a fairly frequent occurrence and her family set up CCTV cameras which captured the defendant removing money from her purse and putting it into her bra.’

Lynette, who suffers from Multi System Atrophy (MSA), said she had 'lost what little trust and faith I had left'.

She said: 'Nadia's actions have cost me so much more than just £60 from my purse or £1,000 for cameras.

It has been hard for me to accept that I need help, and allowing strangers into my home as carers has been yet another challenge.

'I felt helpless to accuse the people who care for me, fearing a 'my word against theirs' situation.

'I was frightened to upset them in case they took it out on me. I depend on people.

'I hope Nadia can never again cause any other vulnerable person the distress and heartache that she has caused me.

'Nobody deserves to feel like a victim in their own home at a time when what they need and deserve the most is support and care and dignity.'

MSA is a degenerative disorder, similar to Parkinsons disease, the average lifespan for a sufferer after diagnosis is eight years.

Speaking after the hearing Lynette's furious daughter Kate Lowbridge blasted the 'intolerable' stress her mother was put under.

The 40-year-old said: 'The whole situation has been a complete nightmare. I know it is only £60 but the stress it has caused my mother has been intolerable.

'Nobody should have to go through this and have to set up CCTV cameras so that they are protected in their own home.'

Summers, from Codsall, Staffs, was bailed until January 30, when she will be sentenced.