Sentenced: Galashiels carer who stole from disabled clients

SENTENCED: GALASHIELS CARER WHO STOLE FROM DISABLED CLIENTS

A carer from Galashiels who stole from two disabled clients has been placed on supervision as part of a Community Payback Order instead of prison.

Kerrie Campbell, 30, of Woodstock Avenue, was also ordered to pay £250 in compensation to each man.

She pleaded guilty to stealing electronic items, clothing, and food totaling £1,000 from the disabled clients between June 1 and October 1, 2018.

The court heard that Campbell, the mother of three, became the main carer for two disabled men, assisting with household tasks, college, outings, and shopping.

However, relatives became suspicious when Campbell was caught on a shopping trip to Tesco using one of the men's bank cards, purchasing items such as dog food, a unicorn, and confetti, which the man wouldn't have bought and didn't have a dog.

Further online Amazon purchases, mostly items for children, were also identified.

A search warrant was executed at her property on July 12, 2019, revealing stolen items worth £1,000 with no recovery.

The court was told Campbell would never work as a carer again and was training as a hairdresser.

Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced her to a six-month supervision order and ordered her to pay £250 in compensation to each victim.

He warned social media threats against her and emphasized that offenders could face severe penalties if they appear in court.