Dementia patient 'saw woman as daughter', now carer is 'ashamed' of what she did

A nan was "ashamed" of what she did to a dementia sufferer who viewed her as "a daughter".

Amelia Doran cruelly used the elderly woman's bank card to withdraw thousands of pounds from her bank account over the course of around six months. When confronted by a colleague, the nan confessed: "I've taken advantage of a beautiful lady."

Doran added she "needed to pay a bill". It was the second time the same victim had been targeted by such a "mean offence", having previously been stolen from by others as she lay in a hospital bed.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the 86-year-old complainant approached staff at the small residential care home in Rainhill, in Merseyside, and was described as having been "very distressed and struggling to breathe" as a result.

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Prosecutor Paul Balsbery detailed how Charlene Harrison, the home's administrator, carried out enquiries with the resident's bank and found her debit card had been used to withdraw £250 from a cash machine at a nearby Co-Op store shortly after 9am on the same day, reports Liverpool Echo.

The staff member then visited Doran at her Sutton Park Drive in St Helens that afternoon, suspecting her of being responsible. The 51-year-old denied theft initially. Ms Harrison then went to her home again on May 25 to let her know about a scheduled disciplinary meeting.

The defendant then confessed and said the money was taken "to pay a bill", adding: "I've taken advantage of a beautiful lady." Investigations by Merseyside Police thereafter established Doran had committed a string of similar thefts against the same victim, dating as far back as December 2024 and amounting to about £3,600.

In a statement read to the court, the pensioner said: "This whole incident has left me feeling more vulnerable. I could never imagine when I came into the care home that a staff member, who was in a position to look after me, could possibly do this to me. She was like a daughter to me.

"I struggle to trust anyone, as I fear this will happen to me again. Milly knew that, only 12 months ago, a family member took my cash card when I was in hospital and withdrew my savings.

"My mood is low these days. My trust is at its lowest. I should be able to have my personal effects left in my room. How can someone in a position of trust enter my bedroom, take my cash card without my knowledge and withdraw my cash?

"My life savings have dropped considerably. The money was for me to live a comfortable life. I hope Milly is never able to do this to anyone who is vulnerable like me again."

Paul Becker, defending the mum-of-two and grandmother-of-one, told the court: "The defendant has committed a mean offence. She has expressed remorse. She is ashamed that she comes before the crown court in relation to this offence.

"She was employed to do a job with vulnerable people and she abused the trust that was placed in her. She worked at the home for six years. The defendant is disgusted at her behaviour and what she has done. She is now, regrettably, out of work as a result of her criminality. She has qualifications. She was highly thought of before her criminal acts.

"Her parents passed away, and the defendant was suffering with the grief of that. She turned to alcohol. Drinking is the defendant's problem. She also has issues with her mental health, in particular anxiety and depression. She has undergone some online counselling."

Doran admitted one count of fraud by abuse of position. Appearing in the dock, she was given an eight-month sentence suspended for 12 months.

Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: "You are to be sentenced for a mean offence, in which you took £3,000 from the account of an 86-year-old dementia sufferer. It is aggravated by the fact that you knew this lady was particularly vulnerable, because she had been stolen from before."

Doran was also told to complete a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 10 days. Judge Driver additionally imposed a five-year restraining order.