A CARER from Powys has admitted stealing thousands of pounds from multiple vulnerable victims whose finances he was charged with looking after.
Welshpool Magistrates’ Court heard this week that Luke Fox, 35, took around £6,000 from seven victims over a 10-month period.
Fox, of Ty Gwyn Road, Caersws, admitted one charge of fraud by abuse of position. His case was sent to the crown court for sentence due to the serious nature of the offence.
At court on Tuesday, April 9, magistrates were told that various issues, including gambling, had led to Fox's actions.
The money was taken from the vulnerable adults under Fox’s care between October 24, 2021, and August 26, 2022.
READ MORE:
- Landslides close two roads in Powys after Storm Pierrick hits county
- Plans revealed for new drive-thru and service station near Llanfair Caereinion
- 'One of the most enchanting property purchases in Wales' has price slashed
The victims are from the Welshpool area, with the offences occurring while Fox was a carer employed by a company called Voyage Care.
Prosecutor Helen Hall told magistrates: “You shouldn’t proceed to sentence and I’d ask you to consider committal to the crown court.
“The defendant worked for Voyage Care, a national organisation that provides care and support for adults with learning difficulties.
“They work with adults in residential or supported living. Tenants who don’t have the capacity to manage their finances. They are assessed and Voyage Care are corporate appointees.
“Employees like the defendant have conduct over residents’ finances. The company pays the money into their bank accounts and he (Fox) withdraws and uses it for the residents’ needs.
“Over a period of 10 months, he took a total of £6,000. This was not one incident, it happened over a period of time and it was not just one complainant. Money was taken from seven victims.
“This is a case of high culpability. He was in a position of trust, looking after vulnerable adults, entrusted with their care and to act in their interests. He took that money for his own purposes.”
Rob Hanratty, acting for Fox, said: “I have to concede that this is category A culpability.
“He has entered an early guilty plea and the defendant is full of remorse.
“There were lots of problems that gave rise to this, like gambling.
“He was signing for and receiving cash from the bank and keeping the cash; he wasn’t sneaking into people’s homes and stealing it.”
Magistrates declined jurisdiction of the case and committed it to Mold Crown Court. Fox is due to be sentenced there on May 2.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here