A carer who stole thousands from her dementia patient to pay off her debts broke down in tears as she was told she would walk free.
Nicola Gubb, 47, looked after “vulnerable” 84-year-old Leah Jones at the Maples care home in Kirkby and began taking advantage of her in April of last year.
She registered herself as next of kin and took Ms Jones’ bank card, withdrawing £3,150 in a month to pay off a debt of £5,000 to a “loan shark”.
At Liverpool Crown Court, Judge David Knifton said: “Tragically Ms Jones lost her own daughter many years ago. It’s easy to see in these circumstances how she would form an attachment to a carer who appeared to fulfil that role.”
Gubb had been a “team leader” at the care home and was well thought of by colleagues until they discovered her secret in May 2022. Ms Jones was taken to hospital and a staff member went to retrieve her bank card from her room.
Prosecutor Ben Berkson said: “Carers went to her room but found a key to the locked cabinet was not there. The defendant had gone to visit Ms Jones at hospital, having told her employers she was off sick, and that further raised concerns about the relationship.
“Carers then discovered that Gubb was Ms Jones’ registered next of kin. Carers are not allowed to have power of attorney or be next of kin and that was made clear by the care home.”
Later that month, a care home manager contacted the bank to release some of Ms Jones’ money but was told the account had exceeded its limit. An investigation revealed withdrawals which couldn’t have been made by Ms Jones.
When interviewed by police, Gubb admitted taking in small amounts to “avoid suspicion” but insisted that it was with Ms Jones’ consent. She later pleaded guilty to 20 counts of fraud.
Paul Becker, defending, said Gubb’s offending was “mean and persistent” but urged the judge not to jail the single mum as this would result in her children being put into care and possibly separated.
He said: “There are unsatisfactory arrangements about what will happen if the defendant loses her liberty today. It’s not her children’s fault she has committed these offences.”
Judge Knifton said: “You undoubtedly abused your position of trust as a carer. Your conduct continued over a sustained period and you undoubtedly took advantage of a vulnerable victim.”
Gubb cried, clutched her chest and repeatedly swooned in the docks as she was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years.
The judge added: “I hope when you go home you express your sincere thanks to your two daughters. They have in effect saved you from being jailed today.”
