A DISGRACED carer who stole from a vulnerable 81-year-old dementia sufferer to buy iTunes apps and fund a gambling habit was spared jail.

Louisa Newton sobbed in the dock of Winchester Crown Court on Friday, as a judge described her crimes as “an unbelievably gross breach of trust”.

The 23-year-old had stolen the card details of a vulnerable man when she worked as a carer at Tower House care home in Salisbury, the court heard.

She made a total of 50 transactions while employed at the home between March 2015 and February 2016, and later when working at Laverstock Care Centre, spending just under £1,900.

Prosecuting, Victoria Hill said Newton’s victim, who has dementia, delusional disorder and Alzheimer’s, “could decide on small things, such as what he would like for breakfast” but could not make bigger decisions, and his finances were controlled by the Court of Protection.

After the court noticed “unusual transactions” enquiries found the money had been used to fund Newton’s accounts.

She had spent £312.96 downloading apps from iTunes, £340 gambling with Bet365 and £1,232.59 to pay her mobile phone bill with EE.

Ms Hill said residents’ bank cards would be kept in a locked safe in a manager’s office, and they could not say how she would have got access.

The manager at Tower House did not wish to comment.

Newton, of Grange Gardens in Salisbury, originally denied stealing the money, and claimed she had been the victim of identity theft, but later pleaded guilty at Salisbury magistrates’ court on December 15.

Defending, Nicola Talbot Hadley said Newton’s ex-partner had left her in debt.

She said Newton had spent much of the morning before the hearing in tears and and that “the recognition of what she has done, and that she has to face the consequences”

had come “as a huge shock”.

She said Newton “didn’t make a great deal of financial gain” from her crimes, and that her victim was not aware the money had been stolen.

Newton, now jobless, is living with her 84-year-old grandmother and acting as her carer.

Recorder Jason Taylor said: “This was an abuse of trust, it was fraud conducted over a sustained period, deliberately targeting a vulnerable victim.”

He warned Newton that the starting point for her crimes would be 12 months in jail, before telling her she had come “extremely close” to prison.

He said: “When you came into court this morning you were going to prison, but you are a young girl, you made a mistake and I do not want to blight your life forever.

The fact that the victim is unaware of what took place plays in your favour.”

Newton must repay the money and complete 250 hours of unpaid work and a thinking skills programme.

A 12-month jail sentence was suspended for 18 months.