Former care home manager jailed for stealing from vulnerable patients

A CARE home manager was jailed for two years yesterday for stealing £19,200 from mental health patients who trusted her.

A court heard Gemma Simpkins put one woman's bank account into the red – so she got a loan to push it back into credit and avoid suspicion.

Ann-Marie Harris, 21, who has Asperger's syndrome, was living at the Heathcote Care Home, in Sawley, which was managed by Simpkins.

Outside court, Ann-Marie's mother Diane Harris, 50, said: "Simpkins will only be inside for a year before she is out on licence. She should be in jail for double that.

"What she has done is terrible but we have seen her sent to prison. When we told our daughter what had been happening, she said 'Gemma was my friend'."

Her father Trevor Harris, 54, said: "Ann-Marie is very vulnerable and has no concept of money. She just wants her £10 pocket money."

Simpkins, 27, of Cranmer Street, Ilkeston, admitted four counts of theft and one of fraud. She had no previous convictions.

Derby Crown Court heard that she managed the Sawley home in Bradshaw Street from August until November 2006.

She then moved to a similar unit at Watnall, in Nottinghamshire until July last year. Offences were committed at both homes.

Judge Hilary Watson said the stolen cash amounted to £19,120 and the fraudulent loan brought the total to about £24,000.

She told Simpkins: "These are huge sums of money which can't be ignored. You were the manager of two homes and had control of the finances of very vulnerable people.

"Sadly you abused that trust. Having got away with it, you continued."

Simon Ash, prosecuting, said Simpkins was responsible for the bank cards of residents, who had weekly pocket money of between £10 and £30. Withdrawals should have been recorded but this was not done.

Simpkins began to withdraw money from the account of one vulnerable woman, taking between £100 and £250.

In seven months up to June last year, Simpkins took £3,870 leaving one woman's account with a balance of £8.56.

In the case of Miss Harris – who has a mental age of nine – a total of £588 was spent in a day.

Simpkins used Miss Harris's identity to take out a personal loan for £2,650. This was put into the account to place it back in credit.

Matthew Smith, mitigating, said Simpkins had heavy debts and now showed "a significant element of remorse".

He told the judge: "She has been waiting terrified of custody, sitting with her bag packed, knowing the inevitable will come."

No-one from the Sawley care home was available for comment.