A CARER cheated a vulnerable 86-year-old woman who she was meant to be looking after out of £10,000.
Katie Guyan forged the Caterham pensioner's cheques over a three-month period until both the victim's son and her bank became suspicious.
Guyan, 23, of Banstead Road, pleaded guilty to fraud when she appeared before Redhill Magistrates' Court on Monday.
She is due to be sentenced on February 18, after the precise amount of money she defrauded is worked out.
Prosecutor Zeltia Carrera told the court: "This was a breach of trust involving a vulnerable victim.
"The total value of the fraud was £10,080."
She said Guyan's mother Suzanne provided daily home care support to the elderly woman.
But when she could not attend, Guyan would stand in for her.
Mrs Carrera added: "A number of fraudulent transactions were eventually traced.
"Cheques were taken from the woman and filled in by the defendant."
David Forsyth, mitigating, said: "A letter was written by Katie Guyan before the police investigation started, in which she accepted responsibility for taking several cheques from the woman.
"My client is a young lady who has never been in trouble before."
He said the only point of contention was how much Guyan actually took.
Mr Forsyth argued that the total amount was £8,620.
The precise sum will be resolved at next month's hearing.
Guyan was given conditional bail – that she does not contact, directly or indirectly, the victim before next month's court case.
Wearing a fawn anorak and pink jeans, Guyan spoke only to give her name, age and address – and to enter a plea – during the 15-minute hearing.
After the hearing the elderly victim, whom we agreed not to name, told the Mirror: "The whole thing has been a dreadful shock. It was a very nasty thing.
"She should be punished so no one else will suffer like me.
"That girl forged my signature on about a dozen cheques.
"It was sheer greed.
"I have no feelings for her at all."
The pensioner, a great-grandmother of seven, has been widowed since her husband died two years ago.
She suffered a recent stroke, losing the use of her left hand and slurring her speech.
She said Guyan stood in when her mother was unavailable, carrying out duties such as getting the pensioner up in the morning, making her breakfast and helping her to dress.
