A CARER who stole the savings of a disabled woman has been jailed. Gaynor Driver, of Bacons Yard, Ashwell was sentenced to a total of 12 months imprisonment at Luton Crown Court today (Friday). She had been found guilty of three counts of fraud by abuse o

A CARER who stole the savings of a disabled woman has been jailed.

Gaynor Driver, of Bacons Yard, Ashwell was sentenced to a total of 12 months imprisonment at Luton Crown Court today (Friday).

She had been found guilty of three counts of fraud by abuse of position and one of theft.

Driver was one of a team of carers looking after Michaela Hadley who had just moved into a self-contained flat in Cain Court, Royston from a residential home in Bedford so that she could be nearer her family and be more independent. Miss Hadley has learning difficulties and epilepsy.

Between June and September last year, Driver withdrew cash from Miss Hadley's bank account to buy items for her new flat.

Some �100 was supposed to have paid for a bed but the order was cancelled and the money never returned. Two chairs Driver bought for Miss Hadley ended up in her own home, and �244 that was withdrawn was not spent.

Driver also applied for a credit card in the name of Miss Hadley, using her details, and she took �700 from Mencap which had donated the money to help buy furniture.

The defendant, who denied all charges, said she never intended to keep the money permanently. She said she was storing the chairs, and claimed she had repaid the money to Mencap.

After the sentence was passed on Driver, Miss Hadley's sister, Laura Hadley-Charter, said on behalf of the family: "We are elated at the result that she has got a prison term.