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How could she? Moment trusted carer steals from frail pensioner's purse

Evelyn Nicholson is a mother-of-seven, grandmother-of-30, great grandmother-of-17 and a great great grandmother-of-10.

This is the shocking moment a teenage carer was caught stealing money from a vulnerable pensioner's purse after a camera was installed by her suspicious employers.

Cruel Sheryvone Brooks, 19, was recorded removing the belongings from 85-year-old Evelyn Nicholson's drawer before taking out £30 and pocketing the cash.

Bosses at Gateway Health and Social Care Dudley had put the camera in the room after the OAP's family became concerned about money going missing.

And on January 6 this year, the undercover surveillance captured Brooks - who had been the pensioner's primary carer for six months - stealing the from the purse.

The shocking crystal-clear footage shows Mrs Nicholas sitting in a chair with a cup of tea next to drawers at her home in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

CCTV image of carer 85-year-old Evelyn Nicholson
CCTV image of carer 85-year-old Evelyn Nicholson



It then cuts to Brooks perched in the same chair and captures the moment she takes a look to see if the pensioner is watching before quickly opening a drawer.

The straight-faced teenager then takes out a red purse and stands up before taking out the cash and stuffing it in her pocket.

She then returns the purse to the drawer and walks off without showing any emotion.

Brooks, of Sedgley, West Midlands., pleaded guilty to a count of theft at Dudley Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Magistrates said the amount of money taken was "minor" but told the teenager she had breached the trust of an elderly and vulnerable person she was supposed to be caring for.

They bailed Brooks to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court for sentencing on March 18.


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Prosecutor Lynda Gudgeon told the court the shocking footage was reviewed by the company and police were called.

She said: "It showed the defendant sitting down at the kitchen drawer removing the purse and taking out the money before putting it in the pocket of her tracksuit.

“The purse was then put back in the drawer. The family had become concerned about money going missing from the purse.

“She admitted what she had done and said she had needed the money for Christmas presents.”

CCTV image of carer Sheryvone Brooks caught in the act stealing from 85-year-old Evelyn Nicholson
CCTV image of carer Sheryvone Brooks caught in the act stealing from 85-year-old Evelyn Nicholson



Timothy Talbot-Webb, defending, said Brooks had repaid the money.

He added: "In her words what she did was stupid. It was also opportunistic.

“She knew it was wrong.”

Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Nicholson’s eldest son Robert Smith, 65, said his mother had been heartbroken when she found out Brooks had been stealing from her.

He added: "She was devastated and it has affected her health.

"My mother said if Brooks had come to her and told her she had financial difficulties she would have given her the money.

"The family is understandably very angry about what happened.”

A spokesman for Gateway Health and Social Care Dudley confirmed Brooks had been dismissed.

Evelyn Nicholson’s oldest son, Robert Smith, 65, looks after his mum’s money and said he noticed that almost £200 had gone missing over a number of weeks.

Mr Smith, who works as a courier driver, decided to set up a camera next to where Mrs Nicholson kept her purse, so he could catch the culprit.

Mrs Nicholson is a mother-of-seven, grandmother-of-30, great grandmother-of-17 and a great great grandmother-of-10.