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| Healthcare worker jailed for stealing from cancer patients | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A healthcare worker who stole cash and jewellery from vulnerable cancer patients has been jailed. | A healthcare worker who stole cash and jewellery from vulnerable cancer patients has been jailed. |
| Jacqueline Perry, 49, was caught after colleagues at Swansea's Morriston Hospital became suspicious about items disappearing. | Jacqueline Perry, 49, was caught after colleagues at Swansea's Morriston Hospital became suspicious about items disappearing. |
| Perry, from Morriston, had admitted nine counts of theft from semi-conscious patients at an earlier hearing. | Perry, from Morriston, had admitted nine counts of theft from semi-conscious patients at an earlier hearing. |
| She was jailed for 16 months at Swansea Crown Court on Friday. | She was jailed for 16 months at Swansea Crown Court on Friday. |
| Perry was caught after police set up a sting operation which involved placing marked bank notes around Ward G. | |
| When one disappeared, officers searched staff and it was found in her possession. | |
| 'Sick and vulnerable' | |
| Perry stole a total of £2,739, which included three gold rings worth £1,800 from an 89-year-old patient. | |
| The thefts had a major impact on Perry's colleagues, the court heard. | |
| In a statement, lead nurse Tina Smith said: "The patients were quite sick and quite vulnerable. It was busy and demanding work. | |
| "The thefts had a massive impact on morale because staff were all under suspicion." | |
| The court heard that Perry stole the money to pay for alcohol for her husband. | |
| 'Despicable offence' | |
| Stephen Rees, defending, said the offences were "not motivated through greed, but by financial hardship". | |
| He also told the court a disciplinary hearing would follow the court proceedings and it was "inevitable" that she would lose her job. | |
| Recorder Christopher Clee QC called her actions "a despicable offence". | |
| Perry sobbed in the dock as Mr Clee told her he had no good reason to suspend the sentence. | |
| He told her she will serve half of the sentence in prison and half on licence. | |
| Perry's victims included: |