A CARER with a gambling addiction took advantage of the chance to buy groceries on behalf of a resident at the home where he worked.

Paul Curry was trusted as carer and 'friend' of the long-term resident at Kimblesworth Nursing Home, between Durham and Chester-le-Street.

Durham Crown Court heard that earlier this year the victim received a new bank debit card, which he gave, along with the personal identification number, to Curry to buy groceries.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, Curry offered to do his shopping up to 12 times over coming weeks, and would often keep the card for several days at a time.

Mr Reid said between June 4 and 20 it was fraudulently used to acquire £3,407, mainly in cash withdrawals, but also to buy goods, including a television to replace a portable model.

Staff at the home became suspicious when the victim said he had ordered tickets for a race meeting at Newcastle, while Curry claimed he had used his own cash.

The resident told other staff that Curry still had the card, but he denied it, claiming he gave it back to the elderly man, who must have lost it.

But, it emerged that Curry had been making use of the card and an inquiry was mounted, revealing the extent of his transactions.

He was interviewed on June 23 and admitted taking money from the man’s account, confessing he had a gambling addiction which, “spiralled out of control”.

Mr Reid said Curry conceded he would have kept using it, had the resident not informed other staff.

He revealed when he discovered police were involved he cut up the card and discarded the remains.

Chris Morrison, for Curry, said it was conceded it was, “systematic appropriation of the card, representing a breach of trust against a vulnerable victim.”

But he said Curry, who hoped to pay the money back from winnings which never accrued, had since shown, “palpable remorse”.

His actions cost him his job, and his home, as his partner of 30 years, “showed him the door”, on discovering what he had done.

Fifty-three-year Curry, now living at a charity-run hostel for homeless men, in Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, admitted theft.

Jailing him for nine months, Recorder Andrew Stubbs told Curry he would be, ”failing in his duties”, to protect residents of all such homes, if he were not to impose a custodial sentence.