A HOME visit carer has appeared in court accused of defrauding some of the clients she worked with in County Durham.

Rachel Fenwick, who worked for a care company, is alleged to have used bank cards belonging to elderly people she visited to assist in their homes, to make purchases and cash withdrawals for her own benefit.

The 31-year-old defendant appeared at Durham Crown Court facing 29 counts of fraud, many dating from September and October in 2019, plus one charge of theft and five of forgery.

Ian Mallarkey, for the defendant, asked for the charges not to be put to his client at today’s (Tuesday March 22) hearing, but he “indicated” likely not guilty pleas.

Ian West, for the Crown, said among the complainants in the case is an elderly dementia suffering patient, which the court heard may lead to legal argument over admissibility of evidence.

It was said that two of the other complainants have since died.

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The case was adjourned for a trial expected to last four days, starting at the court on Monday September 26.

Judge Robert Spragg adjourned the hearing for a further case management ‘mention’ on Monday July 4, when he said time would be set aside for the 35 cases on the indictment to be put.

He bailed the defendant, of Woodlands Terrace, Dipton, near Stanley, to return for both the July 4 arraignment hearing and the trial, on September 26.

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