Gambling addict carer stole £13k from elderly and vulnerable

Rachel Fearnley squandered the money she stole to feed her gambling addiction.

She used a 67-year-old woman’s bank card for nearly a year as she visited her to provide care and helped herself to £8,816.80 by making various transfers and withdrawals when she was supposed to be paying bills.

Her actions led to the woman’s health deteriorating and her not trusting genuine carers she came into contact with.

Fearnley then met a couple at Buzz Bingo in Colchester and after learning the 78-year-old man had dementia and had suffered a stroke, offered to provide care services for him.

She turned up announced at their home days later when is believed to have stolen his bank card and made withdrawals of £1,569.

The 44-year-old stole £70 and £4,000 worth of jewellery from another man she had met at bingo and took cash totally £2,957 from a fourth victim after stealing his bank card while acting as his carer.

Fearnley, of Fowler Road, Colchester, initially claimed she was being bullied by police when she was first arrested but later admitted three thefts and two counts of fraud.

Ipswich Crown Court heard she realised she had a problem with gambling, had previously spent 25 years working in the industry without a single blemish and was in poor health herself having recently suffered her third heart attack.

Judge Rupert Overbury said he would be failing the public if Fearnley walked free.

“It would send the message to every carer that if you steal from the people you look after you won’t go to prison,” he said.

“This is the most serious breach of trust you can commit.

“Vulnerable and elderly people rely on those who care for them and you systematically stole from them.

“You amassed some £13,000 to yourself which you frittered away gambling.

“You acted appallingly towards these people.

“These were mean and persistent frauds against old and vulnerable individuals.”