A woman stole thousands of pounds from her vulnerable stepfather who had dementia and was living in a care home.
Karen Feehan, 50, of Avonside Drive, Evington withdrew £6,000 from her stepfather’s bank account over the course of six months.
She personally took him from the care home to a cash machine and got him to withdraw the money.
Steven Taylor, prosecuting, said: “Her elderly stepfather was taken into care in September 2015, but she is aware he was suffering confusion since 2012.
“He was found at the time to be suffering from early onset dementia.
“This was a breach of trust and responsibility, and she had effectively taken over his finances for a time and made the withdrawals.
“He was vulnerable and she was aware of his confusion.”
Feehan, who cannot work due to a medical condition, used the money to fund trips to the cinema and the theatre in the evenings.
She pleaded guilty to one count of theft on the first day of her trial at Leicester Crown Court.
Timothy Banks, defending, said: “This trial has had a big impact on her ailments.
“She receives benefits and does not work but pools her income with her family.”
Since the theft took place, Feehan’s stepfather has died.
Judge Martin Hurst, presiding, said: “This case has a long history and now I understand that the complainant in this case is now deceased.
“He probably looked upon you as a loving stepdaughter. This was a theft and a breach of trust by you.
“This is not a large sum of money in the grand scheme of things, but it was a lot of money for you and a lot of money for your stepfather.
“This was a particularly unpleasant offence and you shouldn’t have done it.”
Feehan received a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Upon her arrest, she had £300 seized by police, which she was ordered to pay as part of costs.
She was also ordered to pay an additional £200 in costs as well as a victim surcharge.
