A CARER has been jailed for stealing cash from a vulnerable Dudley man to fund a trip to America to meet someone she had met online.

Sarah Grey was working as an assistant care co-ordinator for Dudley Council when she was appointed to ensure that the 50-year-old’s finances were appropriately looked after.

But instead of helping manage his money, the 44-year-old encouraged him to take out a loan and then pocketed the money for herself.

Grey, from Lapwood Avenue, Kingswinford, stole more than £7,000 between April 2014 and March 2015, running up a credit card bill that she had applied for in his name.

But she was rumbled after her bosses became suspicious and reported her to the police.

When arrested in November 2015, Grey admitted to stealing thousands of pounds and told officers she had built up debt when a relationship ended in 2010.

But when detectives looked into her finances, they found that Grey had spent over £3,500 to fly to the USA to see someone she had met online.

She pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and one offence of theft and was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday 25 April to 14 months in prison.

DC Simon Forscutt, from the West Midlands Police Adults at Risk Team, said: "This man was vulnerable and needed help with day to day chores and finances."He thought Grey was there to help him and he trusted her implicitly, giving her access to his bank account.
"But she abused that trust and used her position to fund her personal life.
"Her employer was quick to take action and informed us as soon as this deception came to light.
"We respect today’s decision and hope that this brings some closure to the victim."