Toni Wilkinson, from Oldbury, West Midlands, was supposed to be helping her vulnerable victims – but when she was doing their shopping, Wilkinson used their bank cards for her own gain
A lowlife carer begged “please let me go home to my little girl” when a judge confirmed he was sending her to prison for fraud.
Toni Wilkinson also blubbed ‘I’m sorry’ as she was sentenced to two-and-a-half years. A court heard the wicked carer stole more than £40,000 from two vulnerable people while working for Churches Housing Association of Dudley and District (CHADD).
Wilkinson plundered their bank accounts by withdrawing up to £300-a-week from cashpoints or spending on their cards while shopping with them. Police said she was supposed to be helping the adults with learning difficulties live their daily lives, such as by helping them do their shopping – but she instead would use their bank card to withdraw cash.
And Birmingham Crown Court heard Wilkinson, 46, “did this out of greed,” which left relatives of the victims “understandably bewildered, upset and angry”. The defendant, who is a mother of two, was jailed despite the judge acknowledging she “had shown remorse”.
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Sentencing Wilkinson, Recorder Joe French said: “You were unable or unwilling to outline precisely how much you took or what you spent it on. There is reference to the motivation being to pay debts however you own your own house and didn’t appear to have an uncomfortable life. You appear to accept you did this out of greed.
“The custody threshold is clearly passed in this case. The reality it is, accounting for all things, the nature of offending, targeting of vulnerable people, abuse of a position of trust, the only sentence is immediate custody and one in excess of anything that can be suspended (two years).”
But Wilkinson wept in the dock throughout the hearing. Upon sentencing, she said: “Please let me go home to my little girl, I’m sorry everyone.” Her request was in vain as she was led down to the cells, Birmingham Live reports.
The court had heard the mum started her spending spree soon after getting her job and, over a period of around 18 months, ending in March 2023, she took a total of more than £40,000 from two vulnerable victims.
“Both lacked mental capacity and you accept in your pre-sentence report you targeted them and believed they had significant funds and no one would notice their funds had been depleted by you,” Recorder French added.
An investigation was launched after a manager detected the fraudulent transactions which corresponded to when the defendant was on duty. Wilkinson was suspended but voluntarily went to a police station in West Bromwhich, West Midlands, to confess. Care arrangements have been made for Wilkinson’s youngest child, the court was told. Wilkinson had admitted fraud by abuse of position.