‘Utterly ashamed’ carer avoids jail for stealing from 91-year-old

A crooked carer who swindled hundreds of pounds from a 91-year-old woman she was supposed to be looking after has avoided a jail term.

Jennifer Burns helped herself to £950 from the bank account of Dr Alexina McWhinnie a retired Dundee University researcher.

Burns robbed Dr McWhinnie who received an MBE from Prince Charles for her work in 2010 after the trusting pensioner gave her her bank card and PIN to withdraw cash for her.

Burns, 27, of Maryknowe, Gauldry, admitted two charges of theft committed on dates between November 15 and December 14 last year.

Defence solicitor Scott Norrie said: “She had accumulated a debt of some £2,000 during a previous relationship that subsequently broke down.

“She is utterly ashamed of her actions.”

Sheriff Lorna Drummond QC imposed a community payback order with 120 hours of unpaid work, one year’s supervision and ordered her to pay £700 in compensation.