A deceitful Scots carer has been struck off after exploiting two disabled men to purchase £1000 worth of goods for her own use during shopping trips.
Kerrie Campbell, from Galashiels, admitted stealing the electronic and household goods along with food and clothing between June and October 2018.
The 31-year-old had been employed as the main carer for the two men and was supposed to assist them with household tasks, outings and attending college.
Selkirk Sheriff Court was told a family member became suspicious that Campbell was taking advantage of their loved one.
A check on the receipt from a trip to Tesco was carried out which showed that dog food, a unicorn and confetti had been purchased when the man did not own a pooch.
Another receipt showed swimming caps and women’s tights despite the man being unable to swim.
The court was told that Campbell would put food items into the trolley while out shopping with the men and it would be paid for using their bank cards.
A number of purchases were made online at Amazon which were mostly items for children.
Campbell, a mother-of-three, was ordered to pay back the victims £250 each and placed under supervision for six month after being sentenced in May 2021.
She has since been referred to the Scottish Social Services Council who have banned her from the profession.
A decision notice from the watchdog read: “Social service workers must not financially abuse people who use services. You have been convicted of the offence of theft.
“This was extremely serious and is a crime of dishonesty. The victims of your offending behaviour were two vulnerable people who you were trusted to care for.
“Your behaviour would have caused harm to them and represents a serious abuse of trust placed in you by the service users, their families, your employer and the public.
“The SSSC considers your behaviour to be very serious and to fall below the standards expected of registered workers.
“Such behaviour breaches the fundamental value of the profession to be honest and trustworthy.
“The behaviour relates to your values and therefore we consider it to be difficult to remediate. There was a pattern of behaviour over the course of several months.
“The SSSC has no reassurance that the behaviour would not be repeated.
“If the behaviour were to be repeated there would be a real risk of harm to vulnerable people who may be at risk of financial exploitation.
“Therefore, there is a clear and ongoing public protection risk. A finding of impairment is necessary to mark that your behaviour was unacceptable.
“A finding of impairment is necessary to maintain public confidence in the integrity of the register and in the SSSC as regulator.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
