by Paul Hooper

Jay Adams’ job was to care for people with learning difficulties – and to help them cope with day-to-day activities.

Even though he had a previous conviction for theft from an employer, the 44-year-old was given the job of carer at a Dover residential home.

But instead of supporting one of its vulnerable residents – Adams used his position to pocket £100 from his victim.

A judge told him that it had been a “mean and despicable” theft after hearing how he had taken victim Caroline Chesney to a bank to withdraw £180 from her account.

Canterbury Crown Court was told how he then put just £80 into a drawer in the room of his 51-year-old victim at Twyford House in Whitfield Road.

Judge Adele Williams told Adams, of Beaconsfield Avenue, that it had been a clear breach of trust and would have faced an immediate jail sentence if he hadn’t pleaded guilty.

Instead Adams – who admitted the theft – was given a four-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work for the community.

He will also be electronically tagged for the next three months and prohibited from leaving his home between 9pm and 7am.

The judge told him: “You were employed as a care worker in a residential home for those suffering from learning disability and you stole £100 from one of the residents.

“You have one previous conviction in 1990 for a similar offence. Had you not pleaded guilty you undoubtedly have been going straight to prison.

“However, you did plead guilty and I hope that reflects remorse on your part.”
The court heard that since then incident two years he has been sacked and is now claiming benefits.

Judge Williams also ordered that £100 which was seized by police be returned to the victim.