Council carer stole £1,000 from 86-year-old’s account

A carer who plundered an elderly woman’s bank account has been castigated by a sheriff for her attempts to minimise her offence.

Fiona Cummings was working for Perth and Kinross Council when she targeted the 86-year-old, using her bank card and details to make a string of ATM withdrawals.

The 45-year-old, of Norlands, Errol, admitted that on various occasions between August 24 2011 and February 13 2002, at the Bank of Ireland ATM within the Post Office on Errol High Street, she stole £1,000.

Appearing at Perth Sheriff Court on Wednesday, however, she claimed through her solicitor that she had “mistakenly used the card” to make the withdrawals.

A disbelieving Sheriff Robert McCreadie said it stretched credulity that she had made the mistake once, never mind on 10 separate occasions, having been told the money was withdrawn £100 at a time.

When challenged, Cummings accepted that she had knowingly stolen the money.

Sentence was deferred until August 14 to enable her to make “significant restitution”.

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said: “This individual no longer works for this council.”