Notts teen stole from elderly stroke victim in care home

A Notts teen who stole from an elderly stroke victim while working as his carer didn’t even need the money, a court has heard.
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Tyra Banton took the 84-year-old man’s bank card and used it on 12 occasions to buy £333 of fuel and other items from petrol stations over a six-month period, prosecutor Mark Knowles told Nottingham Crown Court, on Wednesday.

Her victim was described as “highly vulnerable” after suffering a stoke, which left him with communication difficulties and confined to a wheelchair.

He discovered his Nat West card was missing on October 8, 2019, and Banton, who was 18 at the time, was arrested.

Read the latest cases from Nottingham Crown Court.Read the latest cases from Nottingham Crown Court.
Read the latest cases from Nottingham Crown Court.

Matthew Smith, mitigating, said Banton hadn’t worked since and was struggling to land a new job.

"She is very sorry,” he said. “She recognises she has let a number of people down.

"She doesn’t know why she did it. She didn’t even need the money. She wants the court to know she has learned her lesson.”

Mr Smith said she had no previous convictions and has not been in trouble since.

Banton, now 20, of Penrhyn Close, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of fraud by false representation, when she appeared at Nottinghamshire Magistrates’ Court, on November 5, 2020.

Recorder Anthony Hawks told her a “significant investigation” had to be launched and suspicion fell on her colleagues.

But he added: “I am satisifed this was committed as a result of youth and naievety and not something you will repeat.”

She received four months, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to pay £330 compensation to the bank.

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