A carer who stole two bank cards from an elderly dementia-suffering couple she was looking after and withdrew £4,900 has been told to expect a prison sentence.
But on Monday Sheriff Peter Paterson delayed sending Kirsty Ritchie to jail until he finds out what arrangements have been made for her two-year-old daughter while she is behind bars.
The 28-year-old, of Gala Park Court in Galashiels, pleaded guilty to stealing the bank cards from the couple – aged 91 and 92 – and withdrawing the money over a three- month period.
The fraud came to light when the daughter and son of the elderly couple noticed unauthorised transactions of the account.
Ritchie also admitted pretending to Amazon.co.uk that she was her 91-year-old client to set up an account in the woman’s name, and was supplied goods to the value of £4,451.88.
Ritchie – who now works in a hotel – claimed an abusive former partner pressurised her to order goods using the Amazon account and steal the money, but accepted it was her responsibility.
Defending, Greg McDonnel told Selkirk Sheriff Court, pictured: “She is deeply remorseful for her behaviour. She is fully aware of the seriousness of these charges against her.”
He asked for a community-based disposal to be imposed, allowing his client to repay the money she stole.
But Sheriff Paterson said: “My inclination is to impose a custodial sentence.”
He deferred sentence for a week to find out what arrangements would be made for the child if a prison sentence was imposed.