AN embezzling carer who plundered more than £6,000 from a pensioner with dementia was jailed for a year today.Sansha Allen-Jones, of All Saints Road, Ipswich, struggled to hold back the tears as Judge Neil McKittrick sentenced her at Ipswich Crown Court.

By Colin Adwent

AN embezzling carer who plundered more than £6,000 from a pensioner with dementia was jailed for a year today.

Sansha Allen-Jones, of All Saints Road, Ipswich, struggled to hold back the tears as Judge Neil McKittrick sentenced her at Ipswich Crown Court.

The former assistant project manager with East Suffolk Mind had been found guilty of theft at her trial last month, despite denying the offence.

Although Andrew Shaw representing Allen-Jones at today's sentencing told the court his client had suffered from depression, anxiety and panic attacks, Judge McKittrick dismissed suggestions her illnesses had played any part in the theft.

He told the court the 37-year-old, who earned £23,000 a year, had racked up debts she was unable to pay and had taken the opportunity to steal from the 70-year-old woman.

Judge McKittrick told Allen-Jones: “I have come to the conclusion you were living beyond your means. “You plundered her account to the extent of £6,270.

“It was spent by you wholly dishonestly.”

The court heard the theft took place between January 1 and July 11 last year on at least three or four occasions.

After Allen-Jones became responsible for looking after the pensioner at the beginning of last year, she saw the woman's bank statement which showed she had a considerable amount of money in her Post Office account.

Although it was none of Allen-Jones' business and the pensioner received financial advice from a male friend, the carer got her to hand over her pin number and card to enable sums of money to be withdrawn.

The woman's family members discovered a substantial amount of money was going missing. Police were contacted and a search of the flat revealed it contained no more than £200.

Judge McKittrick said the money found did not account for the large sums which had gone missing.

The court heard Allen-Jones had been a carer for 20 years and was of previous good character.

However Judge McKittrick said: “Despite your good character and your service as a professional carer this was a clear breach of the trust you owed to the woman.”

After he jailed Allen-Jones for a year, Judge McKittrick said he would not be making an order for compensation or costs.

As Allen-Jones was taken away from court, a member of her family in the public gallery said to the person next to her: “It stinks.”

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