Victims with learning difficulties were pursued by bailiffs after the deputy manager of their supported living accommodation stole £10,000 from them.
Danielle Smith helped herself to thousands of pounds belonging to three vulnerable service users whose finances she had been entrusted to oversee. She wept in the dock at Liverpool Crown Court today, Monday, as she was locked up for her callous crimes while families of the residents celebrated her imprisonment.
The court heard this afternoon that the 41-year-old was employed by Wirral-based care company Support 2 Independence between 2016 and 2018 as the deputy manager of a supported living site in Oxton for those with learning difficulties or mental health issues. Smith's duties included looking after occupants' monies, but she "abused her position by stealing money from three vulnerable adults in her care".
READ MORE: Woman seriously injured in frightening Baa Bar attack
Over a period of nearly two years, the thief took cash from a man - who has since died - and two women which had been stored in envelopes in a safe. Both of the women fell into debt as a result of unpaid bills following her crimes, with one even being chased by bailiffs for sums she owed.
Discrepancies in their finances were identified during a "routine finance check" in May 2018, when Smith was with residents on a trip to London. The defendant - of Thornton Street in Birkenhead - would "often be present" during such checks, but on this occasion records were discovered which showed instances in which items had apparently been bought for residents with no evidence for these goods having been provided.
These included a television bracket and fan for the man at a cost of £40 each and a bed for one of the women. When confronted, Smith said she had arranged for the TV bracket to be delivered to her own home while the fan had not been in stock.
She also said she had taken £200 to the company's head office for the bed, and returned with £240 in cash within the hour. The concerns sparked an internal investigation in which "extensive gaps" were found in the financial records.
Smith - who walked with the aid of a stick and was allowed to remain seated throughout the hearing due to her mobility issues - had "unusually insisted on archiving her own records" and frequently asked to use the office shredder. Her bank account showed a number of cash deposits and the use of payday loan facilities.
Stella Hayden, prosecuting, stated that it was "impossible to be entirely accurate" about the total stolen - but at least £10,000 was taken from the three service users. The police were informed, and Smith was arrested in November 2019.
Under interview, she "accepted that on three or four occasions" she had taken "a couple of hundred pounds" from one of the women with the "intention of paying her back". Detectives were also told that she had "forgotten" about the £200 sum, as the money had been in a handbag which she had changed following a holiday to Portugal.
One of the victims later described how she was left "upset and angry" by the theft, adding "I thought I could trust her". Smith has no previous convictions.
Rebecca Smith, defending, told the court: "The characteristics one ordinarily expects in somebody who commits these types of offences are not shown and demonstrated by Danielle Smith. She understands what other people will think of her.
"She has a genuine level of remorse and wants to apologise to the complainants. She had a good relationship and rapport with the complainants.
"She genuinely loved her employment and wanted to help others, but unfortunately found herself in a situation where she was taking from those to whom she had a level of care and responsibility for. Her health difficulties have dramatically increased since these proceedings began.
"Her own mental health has taken a dramatic decline. She was able to seek guidance and has found her faith."
Smith admitted three counts of theft on the day of her scheduled trial, after two of the complainants had given pre-recorded evidence under cross-examination. She sobbed and wiped tears away with a tissue as she was jailed for 18 months.
Meanwhile, a member of the deceased man's family reacted by shouting "yes" and pumping her fists. Sentencing, Recorder Simon Killeen said: "I have little doubt that for many years you have played a proper and caring role as a support worker for those who needed you.
"I have no doubt that there is a very different side to your character. I have considered very carefully the moving testimonials from your mother and the church community in which you have found solace over the last few years.
"I have little doubt that you will never do this sort of thing again and that the shame you now feel as you should for what you did to these vulnerable people, is something which weighs heavily on you. What you did do, however, is extremely serious.
"This theft took place over many years. I am sorry to say that, in your case, this offending is so serious that it would be wholly wrong for me to suspend the sentence of imprisonment."
READ NEXT: Petty criminal who was banned from Aldi became brutal killer
Thug's family gasp in court over his cruel words to ex as he battered her
Suspected Lidl shoplifter was escaped prisoner
What murder trial jury has heard so far after son stabbed mum to death outside pub
