AN Ellesmere Port carer stole almost £8,000 from her 66-year-old vulnerable victim to splash out on a Vegas honeymoon with her wife.

Stephanie Quigley, 26, of Blackstairs Road, was working for a Chester-based firm providing bespoke care for people with learning disabilities when she got hold of the victim's bank details, Chester Crown Court heard on Wednesday, September 2.

Judge Nicholas Woodward said there had been a breach of trust against her victim, as well as her employer and her colleagues at Special Needs Care Limited, a company he said was part of a "vital industry which supports the most vulnerable members of our society."

Quigley, who had pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at the first opportunity, was jailed for 12 months.

Prosecuting, Andrew McGuinness said the offending took place over a 10-day period in December 2019 against a 66-year-old vulnerable woman with severe learning difficulties.

Quigley was employed as a carer with Special Needs Care Limited on a probationary period, with day-to-day care for her victim.

She was able to obtain the bank details from her and used them to spend about £8,000.

Special Needs Care was due to end Quigley's employment with the company before the offending was known, but Quigley resigned in December 2019.

At that time, Quigley initially spent money on Christmas items on Amazon Marketplace and Pretty Little Things, before gambling some of the cash in Vegas and hiring a car there while on her honeymoon with her wife.

When the offending came to light, Quigley admitted defrauding her victim in police interview, suggesting her mental health was poor and she had been stressed about Christmas finances.

She suggested she was having a manic episode at the time, but knew she was offending.

She was of previous good character, the court heard.

Defending, Adam Antoszkiw accepted there were "many unpleasant aspects to this case", but Quigley's behaviour was "wholly out of character".

When the offending was known, Quigley had done everything she could, short of "turning back the clock", by admitting everything she had done.

The bank had also recompensed the victim.

Mr Antoszkiw suggested the sentence could be suspended as there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

But Judge Woodward said only immediate custody was appropriate.

He told Quigley: "You were employed as a special needs carer, caring for adults with significant needs.

"She was an elderly lady with mental disabilities; you stole just short of £8,000.

"An aggravating feature was the effect on your co-workers and your employers in a vital industry.

"I take into account your previous good character and the current Covid-19 conditions in custody."

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable Paul Gratton said: “The victim in this case was an extremely vulnerable woman who required 24-hour care.

“She put her trust in Quigley to provide that support, but instead she betrayed her in the most despicable way.

“In total Quigley stole almost £8,000 from the victim, she even had the audacity to steal the majority of the cash while she was in Las Vegas celebrating her honeymoon. Using the money pay for gambling, car hire, expensive gifts and day trips.

“Thankfully, Quigley’s employer quickly became aware of her actions and reported the matter to the police and as a result Quigley she is now behind bars.

“I hope that the sentence handed to Quigley will provide some closure to the victim and her family and allows them to move forward with their lives.

"Thankfully, she has not been left out of pocket in this case as her bank have agreed to reimburse her for the money stolen by Quigley, due to the fact that the transactions were clearly suspicious.”