Care home manager jailed for defrauding residents of thousands of pounds

A former deputy manager of a Sheffield care home for adults with learning disabilities has been jailed for defrauding more than 20 residents of thousands of pounds.

Denise Nichols, 55, of Kiveton Lane, Kiveton Park, admitted fraud by abuse of position at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court.

She appeared in Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday 12 February and was jailed for two years.

Nichols was one of only a few managers authorised to order money on behalf of residents at Wensley Street Care Home and collect it from the bank.

She was found guilty of defrauding residents of around £15,000.

During an audit ordered by the Learning Disabilities Directorate within Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, it emerged that money was missing and unaccounted for, and it became apparent that Nichols was responsible.

Detective Constable Jenny Elsley, who led the investigation, said: "This was a calculated and sustained crime where Nichols exploited the trusted position she held within the home. She ordered money from residents' personal accounts, in excess of what had been requested by the support staff who cared for them.

"Over four years Nichols kept the extra cash and used this to fund personal luxuries, in total she stole about £15,000.

Detective Constable Elsley called it a “flagrant abuse of trust” and said: “Nichols was in a position where she had access to the bank accounts of vulnerable residents and these people were oblivious to the fact they were being duped. Both staff and residents have been left feeling devastated but thankfully her crimes were uncovered and she has been rightly prosecuted."

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, which provides staff to the care home, has said that since the investigation, the trust has put appropriate controls in place to financial procedures at the home to make sure something like that doesn’t happen again.