Foster Mum Who Stole £12,000 From Teenager With Learning Difficulties Is Ordered To Pay Back Just £5

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This woman who stole thousands of pounds from her foster daughter to go on shopping sprees has been ordered to pay back just £5 ($6.50). Marcia Carrod, 50, stole the money from the bank account of the teen with learning difficulties.

Credit: Wales News Service

The care homeworker used the money on home decorations, restaurant dining, car finance, and supermarket shopping.

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Reportedly, Swansea Crown Court was told that the teenager had several learning disabilities and Carrod was put in charge of her finances.

Credit: Wales News Service

Sophie Hill, prosecuting, said: "Carrod received training on what she was, and was not, allowed to do with the money. Despite this training, Carrod used thousands of pounds of the teenager's money for her own and her family's purposes."

In total, £12,100 ($15,800) was taken from the teenager's account during two years. Over £500 ($650) was spend on restaurant meals, £400 ($520) on car finance, £90 ($120) on wallpapers, £200 ($260) on petrol, £600 ($780) in supermarkets and more than £2,000 ($2,600) in cash withdrawals.

The teenager suffered from various issues including global developmental delay and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (otherwise known as ADHD).

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Carrod, who is from Ammanford, West Wales, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position.

Her husband Richie was charged with similar offenses but managed to walk free when prosecutors didn't provide any evidence.

Credit: Wales News Service

David Singh, defending, said: "Carrod accepts that there has been an appalling breach of trust and a complete mismanagement of the complainant's money and that the vast majority of the financial transactions should not have occurred.

"It is highly unlikely she will ever be able to work in a fostering or caring role again."

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Judge Paul Thomas said: "All in all your conduct was greedy and cynically callous. You stand before the court as a thoroughly dishonest woman who took advantage of that young woman for your own ends."

Carrod was jailed for eight months, suspended for a year, and was ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work .

Credit: Wales News Service

A Proceeds of Crime hearing was told a figure of £5,000 had been agreed as the amount Carrod had benefited from her criminality.

But the court heard she had no available assets and a nominal £5 confiscation order was made. She was given 28 days to pay the £5 or face seven days in prison.