A CARER accused of fleecing a pensioner out of more than £21,000 will have his case heard at crown court.
Anthony Minns is said to have stolen £17,100 from a Post Office account and £4,750 from a Lloyds TSB account between January 2011 and October last year.
The 37-year-old was at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court facing charges of theft and committing fraud by false representation.
He entered no pleas and magistrates were told that because of the amount of money involved in the allegations, the case should be dealt with at Newcastle Crown Court.
Keith Laidlaw, prosecuting, said the alleged victim is a 66-year-old stroke patient who lives in an assisted living complex in South Shields and requires carers seven days a week.
The court heard that if convicted, Minns faces up to two years in prison.
Magistrates declined jurisdiction of the case and asked for it to be dealt with at Newcastle Crown Court.
Minns, of Canterbury Street, South Shields, will be back before magistrates on April 25, when it will be formally transferred to Newcastle.
He was granted unconditional bail until then.
Twitter: @ShieldsGazCrime