Mental health nurse from Bedford suspended after taking £26k from vulnerable adult's bank account
Jane Hunt used the cash to pay for items that went “beyond her every day needs” such as a spa retreat and satellite TV, a Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing was told.
The panel agree that Ms Hunt should be suspended from nursing for 12 months due to her dishonesty.
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A registered nurse specialising in mental health, she has already been convicted by a criminal court for the offence.
She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and was given a 21 month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.
The NMC panel heard the victim, known only as Person A, had worked as a cleaner all her life and had never bought luxuries.
Over a 22 month period Ms Hunt took out credit cards and loans in Person A’s name, and set up internet banking for her three accounts.
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She even contacted Person A’s bank and changed the details so all correspondence was sent to her personal address in Clapham.
Then she sent fake bank statements to Person A to cover the deception.
The fraud only came to light when Person A went to the bank to complain about her statements not arriving on time.
The hearing said the fraud was “sophisticated and premeditated” and against professional standards expected of nurses.