Telford theft case care worker's jail term extended
A Telford care assistant who used the bank cards of elderly women to order thousands of pounds of goods online has had her jail term extended after admitting faking a doctor's note so she could avoid going to prison over Christmas.
Farzana Raja had been due to be sentenced on December 20 last year after ordering £3,500 worth of weightlifting equipment, jewellery and clothes using the cards of four women she visited as a carer in the Bridgnorth area.
But a falsified doctor's note was given to Shrewsbury Crown Court, leading to a police investigation.
The sentencing hearing eventually took place on January 2 this year, where Raja was jailed for a total of 21 months.
Raja, 23, of Woollam Road, Arleston, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice yesterday and was ordered to serve three months in addition to her ongoing sentence.
Philip Beardwell, prosecuting, said Raja admitted to police she had altered a letter from her medical practice.
Judge Robin Onions, sentencing, said Raja needed to learn from her latest conviction.
Prior to being sentenced in January, Raja had admitted theft of a bank card and seven offences of obtaining, or attempting to obtain, goods by deception.
She also admitted two offences of fraud in relation to false job applications.
The incidents occurred between June and November, 2011 when she worked at Priority Care Ltd and Carewatch Mid-Shropshire, both based in Telford.
