A care worker stole more than £6,000 from a vulnerable woman with learning difficulties in order to fund her gambling addiction. She initially told police she was not responsible for the money missing from the victim’s account, but later claimed she had taken £1,000 to buy furniture.

Sarah O’Brien, 41, was employed at a care home Caradoc House, in Barry, by learning disability care company Achieve together Ltd, and was the key worker for the victim, who does not have the mental capacity to understand the offences or court proceedings. As part of her role, she would assist the victim and had access to her bank accounts to make transactions on her behalf.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard 35 unauthorised transactions were made by O’Brien from the victim’s account to her own bank account, totaling £6,450. The thefts took place between March 2020 and February 2021, and did not come to light as a result of the Covid pandemic.

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A financial audit was carried out by the company in April 2021 which revealed discrepancies with the victim’s account. The defendant was spoken to by the manager and was suspended under investigation.

Prosecutor Gareth James said O’Brien was interviewed by police and denied she was responsible, claiming there may be mistakes. She later made reference to £1,000 being used to pay for furniture, but made no reference to the outstanding amount.

Due to the complexity of the case, the police’s financial investigation unit became involved and analysed the defendant’s bank account, which revealed payment to gambling sites in excess of £22,000. Mr James said: “The defendant was living day to day rather than being in genuine financial control.”

A co-worker of O’Brien’s described how the defendant was in “financial difficulties” and she had leant her in the region of £200. Having visited the defendant’s home on occasions, the co-worker said her accommodation was “basic” and she was not living the high life. The victim was compensated by the company, who paid her back the full amount of money but this left them out of pocket.

The defendant, now of Port Road, Rhoose, was invited for a second interview by police but failed to attend. She was later charged with fraud by abuse of position, to which she later pleaded guilty. The court heard she was of previous good character.

In mitigation,. defence barrister Adam Sharp said there was “genuine remorse” in his client’s case, describing her as “visibly upset” and “disgusting in herself” during their earlier conference. He told the court how the defendant had slept four nights at a time at the care home during Covid pandemic, and had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2019.

During this period, O’Brien’s long-time partner ended their relationship and she lost custody of her two children who went to live with their father. Mr Sharp described how the defendant owed a “massive debt” to a gambling website, in excess of £21,000, and turned to theft in order to pay back the debt. Having been evicted from her home, the barrister said his client was now living in a hostel but is now hoping to rebuild her life, seek help for her gambling addiction and reestablish contact with her children.

Sentencing, Recorder Benjamin Blakemore said the defendant’s victim was “amongst the most vulnerable in society”. He added: “Society relies in trusting that vulnerable people require care workers who can be trusted.”

O’Brien wept in the dock as she was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment. She will serve half the sentence in custody before she is released to serve the remainder on licence.”

South Wales Police were contacted to provide a custody image of the defendant but none was available.

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