Care home staff turn detective to uncover major fraud

Diligent staff at a Birkdale care home discovered a woman had stolen more than £220,000 from a then 94-year- old resident.

Christine Barber, 57, of Shakespeare Avenue, Kirkby, appeared at Sefton Magistrates Court last week, where she pleaded guilty to theft from former Ainree resident and now deceased Patricia Normanton. The woman was living at Locharwoods of Birkdale Care Home at the time.

Natalie Cassidy, prosecuting, told the court: “The complainant was in a care home and staff were dealing with her finances when they noted that approximately £200,000 had been taken from her account between October 2017 and June 2018. This included12 transfers to the defendant’s bank account.

“Enquiries with the complainant’s bank confirmed that £222,742.71 had been transferred to the defendant’s account. Also, there is evidence that the defendant has paid sums out to her partner and four children.

“A search of the defendant’s home recovered documents belonging to the complainant. There were Royal Mail documents and other documents in the complainant’s name.”
Ms Cassidy asked that the matter be sent to the Crown Court due to the substantial value of items stolen.
Magistrates agreed to send the case to Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing where Barber was told to appear on February 12.
Patricia Normanton died in October of last year aged 95. She is known to have been a resident of Ainrtee and her family are believed to live in New Zealand. .

The relationship between Patricia and Christine Barber was not stated in court but it is known she was not working for the care home where the elderly woman was living.