Rustington fraudster must repay victim, 69

Sheelah Macey, 59, of Mill Lane, Rustington, stole more than £5,000 from her 69-year-old victim, who had been placed in the Victoria Parkview rest home by social services when her carer died in 2009.

Macey, who was managing the home at that time, took the victim to her bank to withdraw some of the money.

She had her savings account changed to a current account and then used a bank card to withdraw sums of cash ranging from £200 to £300 at a time.

She also wrote and signed three cheques that she paid into her own bank account, amounting to a total of £5,400.

The offence came to light when a new owner of the home became suspicious of withdrawals from the victim’s bank account, as she knew that she was confined to the home. These suspicions were later reported to the police.

In October, 2011, Macey was arrested and in March, 2012 she was charged.

Sentencing her at Chichester Crown Court, Judge Wood said guidelines stated that he should allow her time to repay what she stole and it was agreed that the total should be paid back by September 13. If she fails to do this, then she faces imprisonment. She was also ordered to pay costs of £1,355.