Carer jailed for pensioner thefts

A carer from South Yorkshire has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail for stealing thousands of pounds from a vulnerable 77-year-old woman.

Sharon Grocock, of Rotherham, earlier pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft while caring for Doreen Saville.

Sheffield Crown Court was told the 42-year-old stole £16,065 from the partially-sighted pensioner between October 2004 and the summer of 2005.

Judge Murphy QC described her crimes as a "dreadful betrayal of trust".

The court was told Grocock, of Bay Tree Avenue, took the cash from Miss Saville's account to pay for blinds and carpets at her home.

But she also gave some of the money away - paying off her neighbour's £2,000 council tax arrears and buying a £1,700 motorbike for her boyfriend.

Confused and terrified

She also put £1,200 in her boyfriend's account to help him out and spent much of her cash on his bodybuilding obsession, including steroids.

David Brooke, prosecuting, told the court Grocock would drive Miss Saville to the bank to withdraw cash.

To treat a vulnerable old lady in this way is base and about as bad as it gets Judge Michael Murphy

He said the pensioner was so confused and terrified by her experience of the investigation she thought at one point it was her who was heading for prison.

James Baird, defending, said his client was "devastated" by the effects of her actions.

Mr Baird said Grocock was now bankrupt but her friends and family had collected together £10,000 to pay back part of the stolen cash to her victim.

"She's deeply ashamed that she used her position to breach this elderly lady's trust," he said.

Judge Murphy said: "Doreen Saville trusted you but not only that, she liked you.

"You were her friend, she thought. Indeed, it was more than that, she treated you, and you assumed the role almost of a daughter.

"To treat a vulnerable old lady in this way is truly base and about as bad as it gets."

Grocock was also ordered to pay £10,000 compensation to Mrs Saville.