'Despicable' thief stole from elderly residents despite being banned from working in care

Rumana Khatun, 22, swiped the cash from the wallets and purses of retirees while working for Comfort Call home care service over two days in June.

Khatun, of Penrith Road, Hebburn, did so after landing a job as a carer despite being prohibited from working in the sector, magistrates in South Tyneside heard.

Magistrates said they find it ‘particularly despicable’ that she breached the trust of her vulnerable victims.

Just a month earlier, she had been disqualified by the Data Protection Service (DBS) from working with young people or vulnerable adults until 2024.

The four-year ban came after an allegation was made that she had committed financial abuse in her last job, prosecutor Gurjot Kaur said.

She said Khatun was even spoken to by police in late May after the DBS vetting system flagged her as having applied for a job with Comfort Call.

Khatun admitted doing so – even though it is a criminal offence to work as a carer while officially barred.

Despite that, she was given a job, where she was introduced to residents as a new care worker, Ms Kaur told the court.

She added: “Any employment requires a DBS check for positions working with children or vulnerable adults.

“On May 21, the DBS checked its banned list and identified her. A PC Sweeney went to speak to the defendant.

“She fully admitted applying for a job at Comfort Care in South Tyneside, knowing that she was banned from doing so.

“The complainants are all residents who are looked after by Comfort Call.”

Ms Kaur said £80 was taken from a female resident on Saturday, June 6, with £100 going missing from another resident’s purse the following day.

On the same day, £200 was swiped from a wallet and £100 from the purse of a married couple.

She told magistrates: “On June 10, a police officer attended the home address of the defendant.

“She was cautioned and arrested when a bank deposit slip was found for £480 from the TSB in Jarrow.

“It was for the exact amount the defendant had taken. She admitted stealing £480.

“She said she had stolen because she was desperate for food and had no money for heating.”

In a statement, one of Khatun’s female victims said: “This has really affected us, I feel unsettled by this.

“The person who took this money looked at us as an easy target, due to our age.”

Amy Lamb, defending, asked only that the court order a report into Khatun’s offending.

Gillian Charlton, chair of the bench, told Khatun: “We find it particularly despicable that you breached the trust of these people.”

Magistrates ordered Khatun be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday, October 28.

Khatun, who pleaded guilty to three charges of theft and one of engaging in regulated activity from which banned, was granted unconditional bail.

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