Nursing home worker stole hundreds of pounds from an elderly resident

4th July 2011

Lyndsey Platt, 32 years of age, had been working as a care assistant at Oakendale House Residential Home in Rose Terrace, Ashton, Preston, for around seven months when she stole an elderly man's wallet.

She took £150 in cash and his bank card, which had the pin number with it, before making two £200 withdrawals.

Platt, of Harrington Avenue in Warrington, admitted three counts of theft at Preston Magistrates Court and was sentenced to an 18-month supervision order, told to pay £550 compensation and £85 costs.

Bosses at the home dismissed her for gross misconduct and informed the police.

The gentleman whose money she stole had been taken into hospital on the same night, and kept his money and cards in a personal pouch which he left behind when he was admitted to hospital.

The purse was stolen on Monday, February 28th and £200 was withdrawn from a cashpoint in Lancaster the next day, followed by another £200 in Blackpool the following day.

Home owner Raja Singh said: We followed all the procedures within our disciplinary plan and then the police took over. Nothing had been stolen (before) and this is the first time this has ever happened.

I take real pride in what I do and I've got a fantastic bunch of staff who've all been there a long time. All the staff are really disgusted She will now be on a vetting system where she's not allowed to work in a care home.