Charity worker's jail term slashed
A CHARITY worker who carried out a "calculated and despicable" campaign of theft against a vulnerable South Yorkshire pensioner has had her jail term slashed.
Sharon Grocock, aged 42, was employed by Shelter to help Doreen Saville, 77, with her shopping, collect her pension and take her to the bank.
But she stole 16,000 from the pensioner and used the cash to decorate her home, buy her boyfriend a motorbike and pay off her friends' debts.
Grocock, of Bay Tree Avenue, Bramley, Rotherham, admitted eight counts of theft at Sheffield Crown Court in June and was jailed for two and a half years.
She admitted driving partially-sighted Miss Saville, of Heeley, Sheffield, to the bank to trick her into withdrawing money.
But her jail term was cut to 18 months at the Court of Appeal, which was told she has since paid 10,000 in compensation to her victim.
Matthew Stanberry, defending Grocock at the Court of Appeal, said the jail term was too long considering she had paid back the compensation and had targeted just one victim.
Mr Justice Maddison, sitting with Lord Justice Hooper and Mr Justice Flaux, said Grocock had committed a "dreadful betrayal of trust".
He said Grocock was employed to help Miss Saville go shopping, collect her pension and take her to the bank.
But she began asking her for money, leading Miss Saville to eventually report her to social services in 2005.
The judge said Miss Saville had been left "upset and betrayed" by what Grocock had done.
And he agreed with the sentencing judge's remarks that her actions were "calculated and despicable" and she had committed a "dreadful betrayal of trust".
But Mr Justice Maddison added that Grocock was a woman of previous good character, who had now accepted "full responsibility" for her actions.
He said: "We have considered the extent of the offences committed by this appellant.
"One feature we regard as providing significant mitigation is the repayment."
He added: " The sentences passed by the judge were manifestly excessive."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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