Family turned detective after couple’s money disappeared
9:27am Friday 10th February 2012 in Your Town
A CARER has been jailed after she was caught stealing money from the elderly couple she was hired to look after.
Shirley Francis, aged 45, told police that she “loved them to bits” and denied stealing £30 from 78-yearold Nora Brennan’s purse.
But Francis, who is of previous good character, was caught after the pair’s family turned detective.
Bolton Crown Court yesterday heard that the family of the couple suspected money had been going missing, and devised a system of marking the notes in a bid to catch the thief.
Francis, of Hexham Avenue, Bolton, had been at the couple’s home that morning, and after she left, it was discovered the money had gone.
She was arrested by police but the money was not recovered.
Yesterday, Recorder Ashley Murray said the breach of trust was so serious that only a custodial sentence is appropriate and he sent her to prison for 16 weeks.
He said: “They trusted you, and you in interview told the police officers that you loved them to bits. There is no love that administers care with one hand while stealing money with the other.
“These are elderly and vulnerable victims who the public would expect to be protected, and this court must protect them. “It is important that such a message must be given to the public.”
Francis, who worked for C and D Care Solutions, had denied the offence but was convicted by a jury after a trial.
The judge added that had she accepted her guilt, she would have been given a suspended sentence.
Francis’ family broke down in court as she was taken away.
The court heard that Francis had £13,000 credit card debts.
Nick Ross, defending, said: “She is ashamed by this whole experience.
“She has lost her good name and has not been able to work for the past nine months.”
After the sentencing, Tracy Dooley, the couple’s daughter, said: “She was in a position of trust — they rely on that service and she completely crossed the line.
“My mum was a nurse for 22 years and it would never have entered her head that people could do this.
“It has been a very upsetting experience for my mum and dad and has made them quite ill. The only thing that got them through it was that they did not want her to be able to go into other people’s homes and do it again.
