FIFE CARE HOME MANAGER PREYED ON RESIDENTS TO STEAL THOUSANDS FOR GAMBLING
A lying Fife care home manager, Kerry Newins, preyed on residents to steal thousands for gambling.Kerry Newins told the sister of an elderly woman with dementia she had found the resident’s “missing” bank card under a mattress.
However, a check of recent statements found multiple deposits linked to Newins’ online bingo account.
Newins previously admitted two charges of fraud totalling £6,700 while she was manager at St Serfs Care Home in Newport-on-Tay.
“This is a very significant abuse of a position of trust towards two vulnerable victims,” Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith told her at Dundee Sheriff Court.
“She has clearly crossed the custody threshold.” The first victim, Arthur Nash, has since died.
He had given Newins permission to make cash withdrawals at his request but his card was used for gambling.
The court heard how the other victim was a temporary home resident undergoing assessments for dementia.
Prosecutor Michael Robertson said: “The sister of the complainer, who is her financial power of attorney, could not locate her sister’s bank card.
‘A few days later, the accused advised her that the bank card had been found under the complainer’s mattress.’ Her sister became suspicious and she reviewed recent bank statements.
A large amount of cash withdrawals were made, as well as money being spent on Buzz Bingo.
Police interviewed Newins who said: ‘No, I just don’t recall it.
I have been really unwell.’ Newins, of Dairsie, pled guilty to defrauding Mr Nash between February 2 and 28 2024 and defrauding the woman between March 1 and April 2 2024.
The sheriff criticized her for appearing ‘aloof’ and for her attitude towards the offenses, mentioning her “em addiction” and the difficulty for families in her situation.
As a result, she was sentenced to perform 270 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,000 in compensation.
The sheriff noted she was “clearly mentally unwell” at the time of the offences but chose not to impose a jail term, instead emphasizing her mental health and personal issues.
