A CARER who stole money from an elderly woman with dementia was caught on camera by a relative.

Kizzi Ann McMaster, 20, of Hankinson Road, Bournemouth admitted theft by taking cash from the purse of 82-year-old Frances Gilbert on several occasions between April 15 and May 3 this year while employed as a home carer by Bluebird Care in Bournemouth.

Prosecutor Heather Jackson told Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court that the victim’s son became concerned about money going missing from her purse, so he installed a CCTV camera in her home.

“He installed the CCTV camera in a covert position to try and catch the person responsible,” she said.

“Mr Gilbert reports that £80 went missing on April 16, and a further £20 on April 23.

“On May 2 this year at 9.24am, Kizzi McMaster attends the home and is seen on CCTV removing the purse and taking £20 in cash from it.”

When interviewed by police, McMaster, who had worked for Bluebird since February, said she had taken the money as she needed to buy fuel for her car.

Ms Jackson said: “She couldn’t be specific about the dates and the number of times but it was about six previous occasions.

“She said her outgoings exceeded her incomings by about £300 a month.”

The court heard McMaster was due to move back home to Northern Ireland.

The magistrates imposed a two-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered that McMaster complete 220 hours of unpaid work and pay £90 compensation to her victim.

She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.