A heartless carer has narrowly avoided jail after stealing a large amount of cash from a man with motor neurone disease.

Cara Tritton, also known as Cara Wicks, had looked after Anthony Moll since 2016 but, in 2021, she started pilfering from him.

The 34-year-old began withdrawing small amounts of cash for herself via his bank cards, then took £1,500 from one account which she claimed he had lent her, a court heard.

At that point Mr Moll, who was from Maidstone, had lost the ability to speak.

He died before it was discovered the cash had been taken, but a detailed investigation by one of his sons into his finances after his passing led to the discovery.

The police were contacted and Tritton admitted fraud by abuse of position of trust.

In total, more than £5,000 disappeared from his accounts between August 9, 2021 and October 1 of the same year.

However, Tritton, of Felderland Drive, Maidstone, entered her guilty plea on the basis she only stole £1,020 – five £200 withdrawals and the purchase of a £20 coat. She did not mention the £1,500 loan.

She was sentenced at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court last Monday.

Victoria Aked, prosecuting, said: “[Mr Moll] became non-verbal and had to use signs and iris recognition technology to communicate and that’s why he was a highly vulnerable individual.

“She had access to both his accounts and he had a NatWest account and a Lloyds account which he used as a top-up account.

“She was allowed to go shopping for him and pay for his shopping [with his cards], but would have to leave the shopping receipts in an envelope and that was normal and that’s how it worked and he got his shopping.

“But his son had noticed a number of transactions that were not for his father or what he would need.”

The court heard this included clothing from Primark, takeaways and groceries bought at a Morrisons store near to where Tritton lived.

The prosecutor added: “Mr Moll, because of his condition, would eat slushes and smoothies and that was through a tube.

“His son then spoke to the company which employed Tritton and found out her shifts correlated with the transactions.”

The magistrates also heard that, before he died, Mr Moll had become aware there were unexplained transactions on his accounts and had wanted to write to the bank to find out why, but Tritton had told him his card had probably been cloned and that he shouldn’t worry about it.

Victim impact statements from both his sons were read out.

One of them, Adrian, said Tritton seemed to be committed to her role and giving end-of-life care to his dad and that his family had been appreciative to her.

Upon learning of her criminality, however, he said he felt she should never be allowed to work in the care sector again.

The statement added: “She has no integrity to be a lead carer because of the breach of trust and should be made to pay back [what she stole] into his estate.”

His other son, Timothy, said he found the situation very traumatic and emotional.

He said that feeling turned to rage and hatred and he now wanted justice for his father.

The prosecutor told the court both banks had later identified fraud had been carried out on his accounts and reimbursed them to the tune of £5,000.

John Roberts, defending, said Tritton accepted what she had done was wrong and that her dad could help her pay back £2,500 back to the courts .

He added: “She’s been abused by her family and in relationships [previously], she suffered bereavements of close friends, her brother committed suicide and she had medical issues. She was spiralling downwards, there was an inability to cope.

“There was desperation in financial terms and she had some mental health struggles.

“She truly regrets what she has done and is remorseful particularly because of the difficulties in his [Mr Moll’s] life at the time and is seeking to reimburse. She accepts she’s had the loan money.”

The magistrates heard Tritton, who resigned from the care agency and now works in a Greggs store, had no previous convictions.

They jailed her for a year for the offence but suspended the term for 24 months. She was ordered to carry out 25 rehabilitation sessions, complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay a victim surcharge of £187 and £85 in court costs.

The chairman added: “We are not awarding compensation as the banks have already paid back £5,000 and this is a complex case, but a civil claim can still be made.”

He told Tritton the offer of paying £2,500 back to Mr Moll’s estate was a “matter for her”.