A CARER has narrowly avoided prison for the "despicable" theft of £2,500 from a sick woman she had been looking after.

While Linda Graveson spent much of her time in hospital, Victoria Nevinson, 33, regularly helped herself to cash from the bank account she was given access to.

Nevinson, who was trusted with the financial details to pay for shopping, even took her victim's card on holiday to Greece and used it there.

Nevinson admitted the theft, which occurred in the Kendal area during early 2013, and was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court.

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She received a 21-month jail term, which was suspended for two years by Judge Peter Hughes QC. But he stressed he took this step because Nevinson had a baby only several weeks old.

Nevinson must complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay £1,500 compensation to Mrs Graveson.
"The way that you abused the high level of trust that she placed in you was despicable," Judge Hughes told Nevinson, of Well Ings, Kendal. "You do richly deserve to go straight to prison."

Sarah Johnson, prosecuting, said Mrs Graveson was a woman aged in her 60s but in poor health. She had been living at home and was looked after by carers.

One of them was Nevinson, with whom she developed "a very good and friendly relationship".
At the end of 2012, Mrs Graveson felt able to trust Nevinson with her bank card and pin number, making it easier for the carer to do shopping on her behalf.

Mrs Graveson spent a substantial period of the following year in hospital. When discharged, she sold her house and moved to Grange-over-Sands.

Proceeds from that sale were transferred into her bank account. Nevinson was no longer looking after Mrs Graveson, but still had her cash card and "helped herself" to various sums of money to a total of £2,500.

"One such withdrawal took place while the defendant was on holiday in Greece," said Miss Johnson.
"The complainant only discovered what had been going on when her bank contacted her to say she had insufficient funds to make direct debits."

Police were contacted but Nevinson denied the crime. She pleaded guilty at crown court only on the day she was due to go on trial.

In a statement read to the court, Mrs Graveson said of the theft: "I trusted her with my card and she has taken advantage, not only of my good nature but of the fact I am unwell and unable to shop and fend for myself.

"I thought she was a good friend but now I just feel stupid."

Laura Nash, defending, said Nevinson was caring for a baby which was in its eighth week having been born prematurely.

She had also gone through a "turbulent time" in her life. "For her, the most difficult aspect of this case is that the community has effectively turned on the family unit," said Miss Nash.