BADDEST!!! CARER JAILED AFTER EMPTYING BANK ACCOUNT OF VULNERABLE 82-YEAR OLD MAN SHE WAS LOOKING AFTER

Wendy Reid, 52, befriended her mother’s friend Derek Littler, 82, in 2011 after he moved into sheltered accommodation in Woodley, Stockport

A carer who looked after a vulnerable pensioner has been jailed for four months after running up debts of £10,000 in his name.

Wendy Reid, 52, befriended her mother’s friend Derek Littler, 82, after he moved into sheltered accommodation .

Reid, of Bredbury, near Manchester, then went on to empty Mr Littler’s bank account and spent thousands on credit cards.

She also set up payments with companies in his name, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Widower Mr Littler - who lived in Woodley, Stockport, has suffered strokes, has heart issues and seizures and is largely housebound.

Prosecuting, Jon Close said Reid helped the pensioner with day-to-day errands. He quickly became dependant on her and gave her account details and pin numbers so she could do his shopping and pay bills on his behalf.

He would often give her gifts, such as petrol money, and lend her money as a thanks for her help. But Reid set up phone contracts in Mr Littler’s name, paid her son’s gym membership and regularly took more cash from his accounts than he had offered.

She intercepted his mail and bank statements so he had no idea about the debts that were racking up. Reid even spent £1,000 of Mr Littler’s money when he was in hospital following a stroke.

When interviewed by police, Reid claimed she was using the money to pay off her own debts - including her son’s drug debts - and that she had taken ‘advantage of his good nature’. But she insisted Mr Littler knew of the money being spent and had given his consent.

At the same time, she was also keeping hold of a friends’ rent money, which she had offered to pay in person as he worked away, for herself. She was handed a caution in 2010 after taking money from a pensioner in similar circumstances.

Mr Littler's family spoke after the hearing of their disgust at the soft sentence calling a it a 'total miscarriage of justice.'

Mitigating, Kay Driver said Reid - who admitted five counts of fraud  - had struggled to cope with the death of her sister, mother and father in a short space of time and that her life had ‘taken a downwards spiral’.

Ms Driver said Reid had been shunned by neighbours and family and was remorseful.

Sentencing, judge Timothy Mort said: “This man was dependent on you and was incredibly grateful. But you got carried away and saw there was an opportunity to take over and above what he offered to give you. You were making sure you were lining your own pockets while looking after him.”