A carer stole thousands of pounds from her severely disabled client - to blow on Christmas presents from Amazon and meat.

When police raided Nicola Beddows’ Folkestone home they discovered stolen goods neatly wrapped and labelled to people.

In months leading up to the discovery the 53-year-old used Chereen Adams’ HSBC card to order £3,137.69 worth of goods from the retail giant.

Benefit claimant Beddows was the sole carer for Ms Adams who suffers quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy, requiring around-the-clock care.

Unable to trust new staff, Ms Adams now feels “heartbroken” and as if Beddows is stalking and watching her, plotting her next move.

“Through gritted teeth” Judge Rupert Lowe handed the “deeply dishonest woman” a suspended prison sentence at Canterbury Crown Court last Wednesday.

The mum-of-one’s latest round of trickery began in April 2019 after landing a job at Sandgate Manor care home, Military Road, Folkestone.

She built trust and friendship with Ms Adams, who also has learning difficulties, and then took her bankcard.

A multi-grill, pizza maker, wardrobe, LCD television, £250 worth of video games, £100 Amazon gift cards alongside meat, fizzy-pop and toilet rolls poured through her front door in Church Street.

Beddows even set up an Amazon Prime account for fast and free delivery as a handbag and new clothes also rolled in during the months leading to June.

But she was caught after a relative discovered a suspicious letter from Ms Adam’s bank and then notified the police.

Officers uncovered a significant amount of stolen goods at her house in October that year - already wrapped, tagged and ready to hand out as Christmas gifts.

She pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Folkestone Magistrate’s Court.

The court heard Beddows was also caught stealing her mum’s bank card and convicted of obtaining money by deception in 2005.

Mitigating, Phil Rowley highlighted the early plea adding Beddows is “deeply ashamed and remorseful” and “hangs her head in shame.”

He added she has the “spirit and desire” to pay the money back, however, since losing her job with MNP Complete Care and receiving £281 in benefits a month she hadn’t amassed savings.

It prompted an unusual reply from the judge: “I do not care.

“I do not accept that she can’t pay any money - she just hasn’t been bothered to put back any money.

He added: “In April 2019 you set about buying stuff for yourself starting April 12 with a multi-grill and pizza maker.

'It felt like Nicola was looking over me at night and I have had nightmares about what happened to me...'

“On the same day as the multi-grill you bought a large meat pack, it is surprising those items didn't turn into ashes in your mouth given they were stolen.

“A wardrobe for the bedroom, an LED TV and a pack of 10 Amazon gift cards worth £100.

“All of that on the first day.

“The next day a case of 12 coca cola bottles and on it goes, handbags, stuff to eat, treats, women’s clothing, men’s clothing, video games, day after day helping yourself to this woman’s money for your own benefit.

“This continued for 6-7 weeks until you were discovered and if you weren’t discovered you would have bled her dry.

“Some of those items were wrapped up to give to people - how generous they would have thought you were.”

He told Beddows she was a “deeply dishonest” abuser of trust who had severely affected Ms Adams’ life.

But “through gritted teeth” the judge added he would suspend a 16 month prison sentence for 18 months due to the health crisis in prisons and the waste of £30,000 taxpayers’ cash to lock up prisoners per year.

She also poses “no immediate risk” to the public, he added.

Beddows must also pay £1,000 in compensation, complete 20 rehabilitation days, 200 hours unpaid work and three months curfew from 6pm-6am.

Dressed in a grey coat and blue cardigan Beddows told the court “I do” when it was suggested she didn’t care about other people.

Ms Adams told the court the crime has left her unable to trust new staff who she must rely on.

“It felt like Nicola was looking over me at night and I have had nightmares about what happened to me,” she added.

“I still feel very sad, hurt and emotional about knowing that this happened.”

Ms Adams, who regarded Nicola as a friend, said she still feels “heartbroken and shocked.”

"I hope and pray she never does this to anyone again..."

Ms Adams' sister, Danielle, said Beddows has "destroyed" her sister.

Speaking to KentOnline after sentencing, she said: "It isn't even the money. It is the bond they built up and then she broke that trust.

"My sister adored that woman, thought she was her best friend. And the whole time she was taking her money.

"[Beddows] has destroyed my sister, she really has. She feels nervous about trusting new people. She's still scared to go out in case she bumps into her.

"It's made my sister not even be able to live her life."

Danielle said she is glad the court case is now over adding: "I hope and pray she never does this to anyone again."

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