A CARER stole cash from the home of a vulnerable Kendal pensioner who he was supposed to be looking after, a court was told.

Joshua Jones, who has been suspended from his role with homecare specialists St Gregory’s, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft when he appeared at South Lakeland Magistrates Court.

Jones, 21, stole £75 from the home of 79-year-old Kathleen Strickland, who suffers from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The thief, who had only worked for the company for five months, was only caught after suspicious family members rigged up a CCTV system in the house, said Lisa Hine prosecuting.

The incidents took place between February 1 and February 28 this year.

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“He was short of money and spent it on food, drink and cigarettes,” said Ms Hine. In mitigation, Suzie Kavanagh said Jones had shown remorse for the incidents.

“He had gone to look for a bulb to change a light in the house but came across a purse in the drawer,” she said.

“He has been suspended without pay and I am sure the inevitable will happen and he will lose the job.

“He had an unstable and difficult upbringing with very little guidance which has left him inept in day-to-day management.”

She added that he was in debt with his car and mobile phone contract and had applied for loans to clear them.

“Temptation got the better of him,” said Ms Kavanagh.

Jones, of Croft Street, Morecambe, was given an 18-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay £75 compensation to the victim and £50 court costs as well as being made to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

Carnforth-based St Greg-ory’s provides home care across South Lakeland, North Lancashire and North Yorkshire.