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| Cleaner stole from 'trusting' dementia patient | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A part-time cleaner has admitted stealing thousands from an "extremely vulnerable" dementia patient in her 90s. | A part-time cleaner has admitted stealing thousands from an "extremely vulnerable" dementia patient in her 90s. |
| Audrey Hammond gave her card and Pin code to Lucy Bird, who did "odd jobs" around her home in Cambridgeshire, to withdraw cash. | |
| But "gambling addict" Bird kept most for herself, pocketing between about £21,000 and £27,000, a court heard. | But "gambling addict" Bird kept most for herself, pocketing between about £21,000 and £27,000, a court heard. |
| Bird, 21, pleaded guilty to theft and will be sentenced on 9 May. | Bird, 21, pleaded guilty to theft and will be sentenced on 9 May. |
| Cambridge Crown Court was told that Bird began doing jobs such as cleaning and cooking at Ms Hammond's home in Warboys in 2013. | Cambridge Crown Court was told that Bird began doing jobs such as cleaning and cooking at Ms Hammond's home in Warboys in 2013. |
| She was paid about £10 an hour, working about two hours a week. | She was paid about £10 an hour, working about two hours a week. |
| The thefts began in December 2015, the court heard, and continued after Ms Hammond, who was 95 at the time of some of the thefts, went into a care home | The thefts began in December 2015, the court heard, and continued after Ms Hammond, who was 95 at the time of some of the thefts, went into a care home |
| Bird would sign the reception's register under a different name, the court heard. | Bird would sign the reception's register under a different name, the court heard. |
| 'Beyond reprehensible' | 'Beyond reprehensible' |
| The theft stopped after concerns were raised in May 2017, | The theft stopped after concerns were raised in May 2017, |
| Prosecutor Daniel Wright said Ms Hammond's dementia meant she was "totally unaware of this crime". | Prosecutor Daniel Wright said Ms Hammond's dementia meant she was "totally unaware of this crime". |
| Ms Hammond's daughter said Bird had been a "trusted" figure, and called her actions "unforgiveable". | Ms Hammond's daughter said Bird had been a "trusted" figure, and called her actions "unforgiveable". |
| "To abuse vulnerable people in this way is beyond reprehensible," she said. | "To abuse vulnerable people in this way is beyond reprehensible," she said. |
| Stephen Kennedy, defending, said that Bird was prepared to pay voluntary compensation to Ms Hammond and called it an "opportunistic crime". | Stephen Kennedy, defending, said that Bird was prepared to pay voluntary compensation to Ms Hammond and called it an "opportunistic crime". |
| Mr Kennedy said that the thefts had been used to fuel Bird's gambling addiction, although she had not gambled since her arrest. | |
| "There is remorse... and there are steps taken to deal with the addiction that has led to the behaviour," he said. | "There is remorse... and there are steps taken to deal with the addiction that has led to the behaviour," he said. |
| Bird, of Rampley Lane, Little Paxton, was warned by Judge Jonathan Cooper she may face a custodial sentence. | Bird, of Rampley Lane, Little Paxton, was warned by Judge Jonathan Cooper she may face a custodial sentence. |