A Shropshire woman falsely accused of stealing almost £3,000 from residents of a county care home today described how the ordeal had ruined her life leaving her unable to even face her neighbours.

Sally-Ann Matts said the accusations resulted in her losing her £33,000-a-year job as a manager at another care home, suffering health problems and having to seek counselling. The 48-year-old said she was relieved the ordeal was now over.

Mrs Matts was arrested last September on suspicion of taking cash from four residents at White Lodge Home in Alveley.

But the court case against her was thrown out by Recorder Mr Peter Joyce at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Thursday after a 40-page document was produced proving she could not have taken the cash.

Mrs Matts, of Rhea Hall Estate, Highley, near Bridgnorth, said her life had been in turmoil ever since she was first arrested.

She said she had been working as a manager at another care home at the time of her arrest which resulted in her being let go by the company. She said: “I was flabbergasted when I was arrested. It was the first I knew about any of this. I just wish my old employers would have asked me if I knew what had happened to documents and money that was missing.

“I lost my £33,000-a-year job as a manager at another care home over this and my health has suffered a great deal.

“I have been receiving counselling ever since I was arrested in September and I will need more before I can even attempt to look for work again.

“There is also the shame of living with it. In Highley everyone knows each other. It has been really hard facing people here like my neighbours and I have not been able to face going out some days.

“People have told me to hold my head up high but it is really difficult. I’m just glad now that it is all over with.”

Officials at Oldfield Residential Care, which owns White Lodge Home, said they would be releasing a statement in the next few days.

By Peter Kitchen