A MORAY COUNCIL home carer betrayed the trust of an 89-year-old by stealing hundreds of pounds from his bank account.

Amanda Greenslade stole £460 in three separate withdrawals after being entrusted by the pensioner she was providing support to after he had trusted her with his bank card.

Greenslade, 47 and from Thornhill Drive in Elgin, appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court where she admitted taking the money. The court heard that she had developed a close bond with Mr Shanks, agreeing to call in at the Pansport Road Co-op and use the card to withdraw funds.

However, the carer drew an additional £150 for her own use – and repeated the offence twice in a week, stealing Mr Shanks’ cash card and withdrawing a further £150 and £160 at a cash machine at Asda’s Elgin store.

When Mr Shanks noted the withdrawals in his bank statement Greenslade admitted taking the money. Moray Council dismissed Greenslade and called in the police.

Fiscal Ruaridh McAllister told the court that when police questioned Greenslade she admitted taking the money and offered no reason for the offence other than saying “because I could”. Greenslade represented herself in court, saying she was sorry for the distress she had caused her victim.

Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov told Greenslade that the only thing that stood between her and a custodial sentence was the fact that she had children to care for, adding that another saving grace was that she had shown herself to be remorseful from the outset.

Greenslade was ordered to repay Mr Shanks, adding that she would remain under supervision for six months and would carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.