A home help who forged cheques totalling more than £2,500 from an 89-year-old woman has avoided being sent to prison.
Julie Cowan, 42, of Moness Terrace, Aberfeldy, helped the elderly lady by doing her shopping and laundry and was paid £240 every fortnight as a result.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how the 89-year-old woman received a phone call from her bank concerning “suspicious” activity with her account.
Depute fiscal Carol Whyte said: “The woman was shocked by this. Around the same time she was going to hospital the accused drove her there.
“The lady mentioned this but the accused told the woman the house had been burgled. However, her niece checked and could find no sign of any break-in.”
The court heard the bank investigated the situation and found seven cheques had been forged.
Police were contacted.
“Officers interviewed the accused and she made an admission she’d forged the cheques,” Ms Whyte added.
“Some were forged before the lady went into hospital, but some were done when she was in.”
Cowan admitted forging the cheques between August 15 and September 15 last year at Bank of Scotland, The Square, Aberfeldy, totalling £2,520.
Sentencing Cowan, Sheriff William Wood told her: “This is a reprehensible crime against one of the most vulnerable people in society.”
Cowan was ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work, told to remain in her home between 7pm-6am every day and to pay compensation of £2,520.