Jail for carer who stole £8,000 from blind victims
A care worker who stole £8,000 from two blind men who cannot speak was told by a judge that it was difficult to imagine anyone stooping much lower.
Robin Blackburn had been in financial difficulties and had taken their cheque books and withdrew cash.
Blackburn, 32, of Heol Rhedyn, Vaynor, Newtown, was jailed yesterday for 12 months.
Sentencing him at Mold Crown Court, Judge Niclas Parry said: "Your victims were blind, they cannot speak, they have profound learning difficulties and you were paid to care for them.
"You were trusted. You had access to their bank books and quite simply you breached that trust for financial gain."
The judge said that after stealing the cheque books, Blackburn took £8,000 in a little over eight months.
"You knew each time that what you were doing was dreadfully wrong," Judge Parry told him.
The judge said that it was some consolation that the victims did not realise "how appallingly some human beings can act".
Judge Parry said that he appreciated that the defendant was remorseful and felt deep shame, he had pleaded guilty to theft and fraud, and was a hard working man of no previous convictions.
"But the public will expect the court to do nothing other than impose an immediate custodial sentence," he said.
Mr Nicholas Sefton, prosecuting, said Blackburn had admitted at Welshpool Magistrates Court two charges of stealing cheque books and two charges of fraudulently cashing cheques.
Blackburn had been working for Cartrefle Care in Churchstoke, was providing care for the two men and had access to their cheque books, enabling him to take £6,800 from one and £1,200 from another.
The frauds had been discovered when a new manager noticed staff members were not using the correct forms for banking, and statements revealed cheque numbers and amounts cashed did not correspond.
Blackburn told police he had been getting seriously in debt but "felt bad" about what he had done.
Mr Jonathan Austin, for Blackburn, said it was conceded that the offences were despicable.
He added Blackburn worked the night shift and was paid £1,000 a month with £400 a month takenby the Child Support Agency.
He ended up with pay day loans and rent arrears and he started making out small amounts to himself using the victim's cheques.
"Over a period of time it built up," he said.
Mr Austin said his client said he knew it had to be prison, but he asked the court to show some mercy.
