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A senior care worker who stole more than £17,000 from vulnerable elderly residents has been jailed for two years after using the money to gamble and order takeaways.
Cheryl Louise Pratt, 35, from York, exploited her position of trust at a care home by accessing the bank details of residents in her care. She set up online accounts in their names and transferred funds into her own accounts, spending the majority on gambling websites and food deliveries.
The deceit was uncovered when the brother of one victim spotted suspicious transactions and raised concerns. An internal investigation by the care home followed, leading to Pratt’s dismissal and a criminal investigation by North Yorkshire Police.
Pratt, who was a senior support worker, claimed she had received permission from the residents to access their funds. However, a medical professional overseeing the residents’ care confirmed that none were capable of giving such consent.
She pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud committed between August 2020 and September 2021, involving five victims and resulting in a financial loss of just over £17,000.
At York Crown Court on Tuesday, April 15, she was sentenced to two years in prison.
Detective Constable Oliver Dalby, of North Yorkshire Police, condemned Pratt’s actions:
“Cheryl Pratt’s offending was cold, cruel, and calculated. As a senior carer, she knew exactly which residents were most vulnerable to financial exploitation, and she deliberately targeted them.
“She grossly abused the trust placed in her, causing immense distress to her victims and former colleagues. It is right that she now faces the consequences of her selfish and manipulative actions. I’d like to thank the victims and care home staff for their patience and cooperation throughout the investigation.”
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