51-year-old Subhiraz Chandra Sohun has been let off with a suspended jail sentence after stealing £2,460 from a 57-year-old man he was being paid to look after.
Sohun, known as ‘Joe’, DoB 15/08/1961, was using his own address in Clensham Lane, Sutton, to look after the man as part of Sutton Council’s Shared Living Scheme, which places vulnerable adults in carers homes.
Sohun was responsible for the day-to-day care of the man who had Down’s syndrome and also advanced dementia. The care extended to managing the man’s bank account, card and PIN so money could be withdrawn to meet the man’s needs.
But between 27th March and 27th April 2012, Sohun stole £2,460 from his victim.
Police were alerted by Social Services after the victim’s sister became concerned about unexplained withdrawals from the man’s bank account.
Sohun told the council that the money had been used to pay for his wife’s trip to visit her sister in Mauritius. This money was paid back in two installments - one in June for £1,400 and another in July for £1,060.
The couple had been paid £2,500 per month to look after the victim over the last 13-14 months.
At Croydon Crown Court on 20th December, Sohun was sentenced to 12 months jail suspended for two years, 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £340 costs after pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
Det Con Dan Hobbs, who led the investigation, said police will not tolerate abuse against elderly and vulnerable residents by people who are supposed to protect and look after them. “Perpetrators can expect to be caught and put before the courts,” he said