Michala Lewer stole thousands of pounds from dementia patient

Former hairdresser Michala Lewer used 'utterly vulnerable' Patricia Wheatley's banks cards to make online purchases, buy petrol and do supermarket shopping.

After her crimes were discovered, her elderly victim - who has since died - was left petrified that Lewer would come back and 'murder her', fears that her niece said this 'greatly accelerated her decline'.

In court a judge condemned Lewer for abusing her position of trust and leaving Ms Wheatley in such a 'heartbreaking' condition.

However, she narrowly avoided a custodial sentence and will only have to pay back £2,000 of the £7,000 she stole.

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The judge condemned Lewer for abusing her position (Image: Solent News and Photo Agency) Winchester Crown Court, Hants, heard Lewer, who is from Guildford, worked for a care agency in Guildford.

Peter Pride, prosecuting, told that Lewer had been on the agency's books for a while before she came to work for Ms Wheatley 'who was bed bound and suffering in the latter stages of her life with dementia'.

"There was an agreement that during the course of her employment the defendant was to use her card - the victim's card - for legitimate purposes of the victim," he continued.

"But, unbeknownst to the victim at the time - the defendant abused that position of trust by using her debit card a number of times to make cash withdrawals."

The prosecutor said Lewer made withdrawals of £250 cash on several occasions over a two-month period from March 15, 2021, to May eight, 2021.

And, the court heard that on top of these withdrawals - Lewer used the card to make purchases like petrol, Prime Video, Amazon, the Co-op - and at one point used the dementia sufferers card to pay off a bailiff.

Diane Jeary, Ms Wheatley's niece, discovered the money had gone missing and alerted the agency and Lewer was quickly invited to an interview.

"She said she was ill and gave various such excuses," Mr Pride said.

"[Lewer] emailed them to say that she had been, quote, 'borrowing the money' which she knew was unacceptable."

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Ms Jeary told the court that after her aunt found out the money had been stolen she was scared Lewer 'might break into her bungalow and murder her'.

"Her niece tried to reassure her of that but was of the view she didn't feel safe anymore," Mr Pride said.

Ms Jeary described her aunt as being 'utterly vulnerable' and said: "I'm convinced that the shock and mental distress caused by the theft greatly accelerated her decline."

Anna Leathem, mitigating, said Lewer is 'regretful she took the money'.

"She fully accepts not that the victim was never going to consent to giving money," she added.

"She fully accepts that there is a vulnerable victim at the heard of this."

Ms Leathem said Lewer took up the job during a 'time of unrest' - the Covid pandemic.

"The reason Ms Lewer took up this position as a carer was due to Covid as she was unable to continue in her career as a hairdresser," she said.

The court heard the mother of two is on universal credit - but 'wants to pay back what she stole'.

His Honour Judge Adam Feest KC said: "In 2021, over the course of two months you stole nearly seven thousand pounds from Patricia Wheatley - someone you cared for.

"You more than most will know vulnerable she was at the time.

"Your [role] with her was to look after her - you abused that position by taking her money.

"Her family describe her as being deeply distressed by what you did."

The judge said it is 'heartbreaking' to hear how Ms Wheatley lived in fear at the end of her life.

He handed her an 18 month prison sentence and said he is only 'just' prepared to suspend that for the same amount of time.

"When I say just, I really mean just," he added.

Lewer was ordered to pay back £1,980 in compensation to Ms Wheatley's estate.

She was also ordered to carry out 30 days of rehabilitation activities.