James Huxted, who worked with vulnerable adults at a supported living facility in Bexley, repeatedly used a bank card belonging to a 63-year-old man with complex needs.
Woolwich Crown Court heard that he was initially suspected of stealing up to £16,000, but police could only prove around £2,000.
The victim was living semi-independently before the theft, but the court heard he has subsequently taken many steps backwards.
“He thought James was a friend. It feels like a bereavement to him. One minute he was there, the next he was gone,” said a care manager.
Huxted, 41, from Dartford, was sentenced to ten months in prison on Friday (May 15) after he pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
James Huxted, pictured leaving court at an earlier hearing, has been jailed for 10 months (Image: Newsquest)
Prosecutor Efstathios Divaris said the defendant was employed by Agincare to work with vulnerable adults at a supported living facility in Bexley.
In August last year, the victim informed staff members that Huxted had been stealing from his account.
The total amount unaccounted for was £16,000, though only £2,000 could be positively attributed to Huxted.
The matter was reported to the police and Huxted admitted the thefts.
“He said he had a gambling addiction and also used the money to pay rent,” Mr Divaris said.
“He said he didn’t know when this started and how much money he took from the victim.”
Police used CCTV to analyse a one-month period, finding footage of Huxted withdrawing a total of £1,600 from the victim’s account on six separate days.
Huxted had even continued to steal from the victim after he had raised concerns about money missing from his account, Mr Divaris said.
Graham Blower, defending, said his client is thoroughly ashamed of his actions.
“He was gambling on machines within betting shops and it got to the stage where all his wages would go, and that’s when he started to do what he regrets,” Mr Blower said.
“The impact on the victim is known to him and he expresses his deep regret and shame.”
Huxted was dismissed by the agency but has been doing manual work since and has paid £400 back to the victim.
“He wants to pay back the rest,” Mr Blower said.
Judge Charlotte Welsh described it as a gross abuse of trust.
“I don’t know exactly how many times you took money out of [the victim’s] account, nor do I know how long you were taking money from him, but I can infer properly that it was very many times,” Judge Welsh said.
“What you did was to treat his money as if it were your own, without any thought of the consequences for him.”
The judge detailed the impact the offence had on the victim – causing him to become increasingly anxious, to drink heavily and to become less independent.
Judge Welsh concluded: “An immediate sentence of imprisonment is required, not least to deter others from behaving as you have.”
