Crook carer stole £56,620 from vulnerable adults (From The Northern Echo)

Crook carer stole £56,620 from vulnerable adults

1:04am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Gavin Engelbrecht

A MAN who stole thousands of pounds from the bank accounts of vulnerable adults with mental health issues difficulties was jailed yesterday for his “gross breach of trust”.

David James William Instone, 30, was covering for his mother while she took a holiday from her job at Bishop Auckland care company Deaconstar, when he committed a series of thefts.

Over a period of 18 months Instone, of Robinson Grove, Crook, County Durham, copied the pin numbers of cards belonging to clients and withdrew money from cashpoints, Durham Crown Court was told.

Sentencing Instone to 32 months in prison, Recorder Jonathan Bennett said the victims had been shocked and upset that someone they knew as a friend had stolen their money.

Judge Bennett said: “It caused problems, not just to these people who have lost their money, but also to the families who have had to pick up the pieces for these people who have been devastated, particularly by the betrayal they feel.”

He added: “More than that, you were taken on by the director of Deaconstar, who knew you as a friend.

“You betrayed not only her, but your mother, who discovered large sums of money had gone missing.”

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said Instone had been committed to the crown court for sentencing after pleading guilty to seven counts of theft totalling £29,870 from four people.

He also asked for a further 20 offences to be taken into account. Altogether, £56,620 was taken.

Ms Lamballe said Deaconstar provided 24-hour care for vulnerable adults suffering disabilities ranging from Down’s syndrome to autism and had access to their bank cards and details.

When Instone’s mother went on holiday from October 2009 to February 2010, Instone took over her duties.

She said: “During this time he copied down clients’ pin numbers and made copies of the office key and alarm numbers.

“Over the 18-month period he returned to the office out of hours, removed cards belonging to service users and used them to withdraw money from cashpoints, before returning the cards to the office to avoid detection.”

In a statement, one victim said: “I was very angry and shocked to find he had stolen my money. I thought he was a nice man and he liked me. I was upset. Why did he do this? I have done nothing to him. I sent him a Christmas card because I thought he was a nice man.”

Zoe Passfield, mitigating, said Instone had got into dire financial straits when a business he had gone into with his uncle was facing court proceedings.

She said Instone had started taking small amounts believing he would be able to pay it back, but it became a “horrifying snowballing” of events.

She said: “He recognises the effect it has had on his victims and he is ashamed and disgusted with himself.”