A Sanctuary Point woman who stole $1600 from an elderly couple while they were in hospital through her role as a carer has been fined $1000 and ordered to repay the money.
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Candice Groenestein, 28, pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining property by deception in Nowra Local Court.
Court papers said as part of her role as a carer with the Illawarra Retirement Trust (IRT) she cared for the 92 and 93-year-old couple a number of times a week.
That included taking them shopping.
It was alleged Groenestein had seen the elderly gentleman uses his cash card and knew he had the pin number on a piece of paper inside his wallet.
The court heard the couple were both admitted to Shoalhaven District Hospital early last December for treatment, with police alleging Groenestein visited the elderly gentleman and took his wallet from a bedside cabinet.
His card was later used to withdraw $1600 from both the Commonwealth and St George banks.
The man noticed his wallet was missing from the hospital around December 4 and raised the issue with his wife.
It was alleged the accused arrived at the hospital at the same time saying the "wallet and key card were in the draw".
The woman later questioned how Groenestein even knew the items were missing.
The couple were later admitted to a nursing home and a check of their account found $1600 was missing.
Police obtained CCTV from the Commonwealth and St George banks and when speaking to Groenestein she allegedly told officers her elderly female client had given her $800 to pay bills and on another occasion had given her the money to buy items like magazines and cake for her.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming fined Groenestein $1000 and ordered she repay the $1600.
Read more: Crime/Court
