A LEISTON carer has admitted embezzling a 91-year-old woman she was being trusted to look after.

Colin Adwent

A LEISTON carer has admitted embezzling a 91-year-old woman she was being trusted to look after.

Glenda Vearer, of Heath View, admitted fiddling payment for the number of hours she had worked, when she appeared at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday.

At one stage she had faced 27 counts of fraud relating to taking money from Margaret Fox. However, when Vearer appeared before Judge John Devaux for her plea and case management hearing, the charges were reduced to one allegation.

The 49-year-old pleaded guilty to the new indictment when it was read out by the clerk of the court during the short hearing.

Vearer was charged with committing a fraud between February 2 last year and June 30 last year in regards to her position.

The indictment states that she had abused her position as an employee of Margaret Fox. Vearer had done so because she had been expected to safeguard, or not act, against the pensioner's financial interests.

Vearer, who needed the support of metal sticks as she walked into court with her foot a cast, is said to have received payment for hours she had not worked. This was a contravention of section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006.

Prosecutor Michael Crimp said Vearer was responsible for cashing a number of cheques made out to her or to cash.

The court heard the cheques amounted to well over �3,000.

However, Mr Crimp stressed Vearer was probably entitled to some of that money for work she had done.

The prosecution is still trying to establish the exact amount of money Vearer had defrauded.

Before releasing Vearer on bail, Judge Devaux told her all sentencing options would remain open to him.

The hearing was adjourned while further details are ascertained.

Judge Devaux said the case would be warned for sentencing for week commencing March 23.

colin.adwent@eadt.co.uk