A CARER used a terminally ill man’s bank card to steal more than £17,000 in the space of a month, including buying a hoover “to remember him by”.

Lynn Hopkin, 54, of Wheeler’s Lane, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to taking £17,241.60 from the account of Robin Clark, now deceased, between July 1, 2019 and July 31, 2019.

Hopkin claimed she was authorised to use the card but accepted she began to use it dishonestly.

And appearing at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, March 25, Judge Robert Pawson accepted she was initially authorised to use the card, but to a value “no more than £100”.

Prosecuting, Althea Brooks told the court that Santander had repaid £7,000 of the money to Mr Clark’s will beneficiaries and the left-over amount was just over £10,000.

Mitigating, Robert Grey said Hopkin had run into financial difficulty and accepted her spending was dishonest.

Hopkin also claimed she was close friends with Mr Clark and that he authorised the spending to buy some gifts when she was caring for him in the Forest Holme Hospice.

Judge Pawson determined this was a lie as she changed her account three times on how long she had known the victim and there were no contact details for Hopkin found in the victim’s home.

“I have no doubt that she did not know Mr Clark prior to his arrival at the hospice,” he said.

“Why would the victim give the defendant, a total stranger, anything more than a small gift?

“She claims she was sent out with the defendant’s card to buy pyjamas and toiletries, I have no doubt this is how Ms Hopkin came to know of the card details.

“She claimed the victim agreed to pay for two holidays, including in EuroDisney and in the West Country, I have no doubt she is lying.

“The suggestion that he paid for a hoover as a present to remember him by is simply incredible.

“The amount that the defendant took dishonestly was no less than £17,000.”

The sentencing was adjourned so Hopkin could repay the £10,000, however Judge Pawson did not accept her remorse as she had not contacted her building society to help refund the victims.

“The way it looks to me is Ms Hopkin is only worried about Ms Hopkin,” he added.

“I will give the matter a final chance. The real victim in this case has died, he will never see justice, at least his family will.

“I would have expected Ms Hopkin, in the circumstances she was in, to have gone to her building society and say this is the position I am in, how difficulty will it be to add £10,000 to my mortgage.

“It doesn’t seem to me Ms Hopkin is doing herself any favours.”