A JUDGE conceded the vulnerable victim of a "despicable" carer who stole almost £10,000 from her client will feel "no justice" after a suspended prison sentence was imposed.

Judge Christopher Morgan made the comments during the sentencing hearing of Katrina Lockwood, 38, at Chelmsford Crown Court on Wednesday.

Lockwood agreed to clean her elderly victim's flat, carry out her shopping and withdraw cash for her weekly in exchange for a £12 per hour wage.

But during 2017 and 2018, she scammed her vulnerable client, who suffered with blindness and diabetes, using her bank card to make cash withdrawals, splash out on shopping for herself and pay for her petrol.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard Lockwood stole £6,980 of her elderly victim’s savings through cashpoint withdrawals.

She splashed out another £2,689 on shopping for herself and spent a further £108 on petrol.

The court heard the victim became suspicious of Lockwood in early 2018, contacting the police in February.

But no action was taken until months later when a social worker visited the victim and reported her own suspicions to the police.

The police examined bank statements before tracing Lockwood.

Mum-of-two Lockwood had initially denied one charge of theft, but owned up to her crime on the first day of her trial in May.

After hearing of Lockwood’s guilty plea, the victim said: “Since I found out Katrina has gone guilty in some ways I feel sorry for her, because of the kids. In other ways, I think she’s a cow.

"I deplore what she has done. I have always earned my own money, and this is part of my savings.”

Sasha Bailey, mitigating, said Lockwood’s actions were “deplorable and despicable”.

She added Lockwood had no previous convictions.

She said: “Miss Lockwood is the first person who accepts that her behaviour was deplorable and in fact despicable. 

“She uses the word disgusting, she is disgusted and embarrassed with herself. 

“During that period of time she was going through difficulties with her own mental health and importantly the health of her father.

“He at the time was suffering from Parkinson’s when she was starting to work for the victim. 

“When these offences happened towards the end of 2017 and the beginning of 2018, February 2018 is when Miss Lockwood's father died quite suddenly from pneumonia. 

“His death came as a big blow to her.”

Judge Christopher Morgan sentenced Lockwood, of Magpie Chase, Stanway, to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 21 months.

She must complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay £1,000 in compensation.

In sentencing Lockwood, he said: "You knew from the moment you were arrested and interviewed that you were guilty.

“But you delayed the matter until inevitably the court could accommodate your trial and it was only at that point you pleaded guilty.

“You would have recognised if you are the character of the individual I have read about from the references, the effect that would have upon your victim.

“She was a vulnerable lady, she relied upon you as she relied upon others in the past.

“Whilst you claim, as set out in the various documents including the pre-sentence report about the impact of personal matters upon you and the stress and effect of these proceedings over you, not once in those documents do I perceive any understanding of the harm you have caused to your victim.

“While you have been under stress waiting for a trial, claiming your innocence, you left your victim to have to consider whether she would have to give evidence against you.

“You spared her that, but only at the last moment.”

Judge Morgan set out the reasons for suspending the sentence, admitting it would feel like "no justice" for the victim.

"In the pre-sentence report it sets out a number of inevitable consequences should you go into immediate custody, which you thoroughly deserve," he said.

"There are concerns about your mental health if you were placed into custody.

"For my part, although that would be a consideration it is not a significant one in my judgement.

"You would have been well aware of the consequences when committing these offences.

"But I am obliged under the guidelines to consider in the case of a person in your situation whether a custodial sentence will cause a significant impact upon others who rely on you.

"In those circumstances while this matter plainly passes the custody threshold, because of the impact upon others the sentence will be suspended.

"I'm sure, on review, [the victim] will think that's no justice at all, especially as she has been robbed - and I use that expression - of just short of £10,000 by you.

"The chances of her getting that money back from you are limited."

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