Carer uses sick OAP's bank card on trip to McDonald's

Lisa Hutton, 25, from Whitburn, West Lothian, admitted defrauding Eliza Nichol, 71, out of nearly 2000 after being entrusted with her debit card.

She has now repaid the cash, but sentence was deferred at Livingston Sheriff Court yesterday to find out if Ms Nichol had got the money back from her bank.

Hutton, 25, was caught after the woman's nephew spotted that money had been spent at McDonald's while his aunt was in hospital.

Claire Martin, prosecuting, said Hutton was responsible for a total of 67 transactions using the victim's debit card.

The accused worked for Heatherfield Care and had built a relationship with her patient, putting her in a position of trust, Miss Martin said.

"She was entrusted by the lady to go to her bank and withdraw 200 at a time and carry out small errands," she said.

"She often kept the bank card for days before giving it back. When the lady was taken to hospital after suffering a bad reaction to antibiotics, she asked Hutton to take out 100 to use while she was in hospital.She'd been in hospital for about four weeks when the accused visited her and returned the card.

"When the lady's nephew and his wife opened her bank statements they found a transaction at McDonald's which was completely out of character for their auntie."

Hutton pleaded guilty to obtaining goods and services worth 1163.41 by fraud.

She also admitted stealing 810 by using the card and Pin in various cashline machines in Whitburn and Blackburn. Raymond McMenamin, defending, said Hutton, who now worked in a bakery, had paid more than 1973 she stole into a holding account.

Sheriff Douglas Kinloch said making a compensation order would be simpler if the court found out who had lost out as a result of Hutton's dishonesty. He deferred sentence until March 17.