Carer who abused trust jailed

Over a four-year period Caron Williams stole cheques from the severely disabled woman she was supposed to be looking after and frittered away just over 70,000 on paying off debts and buying gifts for friends.

Bradford Crown Court was told Williams became the carer for Janet Townson in about 2001.

The complainant, now aged 57, had been left paralysed from the chest down after a serious road traffic accident nearly 25 years ago and prosecutor Ken Green described her as a permanent user of a wheelchair who needs permanent care.

Williams looked after the complainant in Bradford until 2006, but even after Miss Townson moved to Lancaster in 2006, they remained friends and the defendant was a regular visitor to her new home.

In June 2008 Williams, of St Stephen's Road, Bradford, tried to pay a cheque for 1,200 seemingly signed by the complainant into her own bank account, but staff became suspicious and checks revealed it was a forgery.

Inquiries revealed that a large number of cheques had been stolen between April 2004 and June 2008 and about 71,500 had been plundered from the victim's bank account.

In a victim impact statement the complainant said her life had been devastated by the offences and she had "shed buckets of tears".

She said she couldn't understand how Williams could be so friendly to her and her friends and yet steal from her at the same time.

Mr Green revealed that all of the stolen money had been reimbursed by the victim's bank and Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC described that as a handsome gesture.

Williams, 39, who had no previous convictions, admitted stealing the money when she was questioned by police in September 2008, but she then went on the run and while she was lying low in a Bradford pub she went on to steal 780 from 79-year-old Ivan Ignatio after he took pity on her.

Mr Green said Williams knocked on that victim's home on a snowy and bitterly cold day in December 2008 and the unsuspecting householder provided her with hot drinks and shelter.

It was only after she left the house that the victim realised his wallet containing the cash had been stolen from a jacket.

In his victim impact statement he said the theft had led to him having difficulty paying his household bills and the court was told that he had received no compensation for his loss.

Williams, who now has a six-month baby, was on police bail at the time of the theft from Mr Ignatio and she also failed to turn up for a court hearing in February this year.

She was finally arrested again on a warrant and accepted that she had committed the offences against the first complainant out of pure greed.

Williams said she had stolen again from Mr Ignatio when she was at her wits end and had no money.

She used the cash to pay for bed and breakfast accommodation at a guest house in Wibsey, Bradford.

Yesterday Judge Durham Hall QC sentenced Williams to a total of 34 months in prison after she admitted a series of theft and attempted theft charges.

"You were a carer and a friend of a lady whose problems when compared to yours are real and desperate," the judge told Williams.

"She is a tetraplegic and has been for 24 years and you preyed upon her when you should have been helping her.

The court heard that Williams' baby was currently with her

at New Hall Prison, but when

it reaches the age of 18-months it would be separated from

her.

"I know that that child will be taken from you at a certain period but I have to do my duty Ms Williams and not shirk from it," said the judge.

"This is a truly, truly appalling case."