A social worker who committed “despicable” thefts against mental health patients after falling prey to a loan shark has been spared jail.

Karen Buchanan was given a sentence of 10 months suspended for two years and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work.

She admitted five theft charges, four involving two patients and the other, Lottery money she stole from colleagues.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that the 34-year-old mother had been working for Rochester Community Health team at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the town since 2002.

Jo Cope, prosecuting, said Buchanan falsely claimed she bought items for a male patient with £680 of his money.

She also collected money from a female patient while she was at Medway Maritime Hospital.

Ms Cope said Buchanan, of Plumstead, south east London, was running an office Lottery but after she resigned in December 2007 after being off sick since the August, none of the £280 she had was returned.

The total amount stolen was £1,060. She was ordered to repay £500 in compensation to the two patients at the rate of £5 a week.

When arrested, Buchanan said she took the money because of debts with a loan shark. She said she would repay it but did not do so.

Full story in Monday's Medway Messenger.