A WOMAN trusted to look after the finances of a vulnerable elderly relative “cleaned out his account” to help meet her own money problems.

Andrea Nicholson stole more than £35,000 belonging to the 77-year-old ex-mineworker over a three-year period, leaving him heavily in arrears at the council-run care home where he lived, in Chester-le-Street.

But after paying heed to a judge’s warning that she should attempt to remunerate the victim, who has mild learning difficulties, the 49-year-old defendant narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence at Durham Crown Court today (Thursday June 4).

Nicholson, of Wycliffe Road, Seaham, admitted theft at an earlier hearing and Judge Christopher Prince adjourned sentence, advising her to strive to pay back the entire sum, even if it meant putting her house up for sale.

On her return for today’s sentencing hearing, Ian West, prosecuting, said the full amount, £35,764, has now been paid into a police bank account, enabling the court to make a compensation order in that sum.

But the court was told that as she has been making voluntary reparation payments, since her offending came to light, the compensation order was made in the outstanding sum of £34,177.

Judge Prince also ordered her to pay £535 prosecution costs, leaving the remainder to be repaid to Nicholson.

A statement made by another family member, read to the court, spoke of the “distress” her offending caused as they believed she was a trustworthy executor to oversee the victim’s long-term financial interests, instead she milked his “substantial savings” including his redundancy, proceeds from his house sale and his British Coal pension.

Claire Anderson, mitigating, said Nicholson had power of attorney and reliably oversaw the elderly man’s finances for several years, until she began to struggle herself to cope with the cost of living.

“That’s how it came about. She got into debt herself, partly through helping others out.

“But all the money has now been repaid, not from the sale of her house, but from a loan from another member of the family which she must now pay back.”

Miss Anderson said Nicholson, of previous good character, is highly remorseful, and still has the support of several family members, as proved by character testimonials handed to the court.

Judge Prince said partly because of the repayment of the money, but also due to her previous clean character and good work ethic, training disabled people for the workplace, he could avoid imposing an immediate prison sentence.

He passed a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years, during which Nicholson will be subject to probation supervision.