Cleaner jailed for care home burglaries

A cleaner who burgled elderly residents at a care home he had worked at has been jailed.

Anthony Whitesmith broke into the rooms of two sleeping women in Gateshead in October, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Recorder Nicholas Lumley KC said the 45-year-old preyed upon the elderly and it was not clear what would have happened if his victims had woken up and confronted him.

Whitesmith, of Coltsfoot Gardens, Felling, Gateshead, admitted two counts of burglary and was jailed for two years and four months.

Whitesmith, who had previously worked at the care home but was not employed there at the time, entered one woman's room on the night of 7 October and took items including her purse and a silver box with her name engraved on it, prosecutor Katie Spence said.

On 14 October, he smashed a patio window and gained entry to another elderly woman's room, stealing £500 in cash.

Recorder Lumley said Whitesmith had been a "trusted employee" and knew how vulnerable the women were, adding: "They would not fight back or offer any resistance and you knew that."

He said Whitesmith was under the influence of drugs at the time of the burglaries, adding: "Who knows how you would have responded if they had dared to defend themselves."

Both had spoken of the "devastating affect" the burglaries had on them and they were "entitled to feel safe", the judge added.

He said Whitesmith's claims he had to steal due to the difficult financial position he was in were "untrue", adding: "There were other ways of dealing with your issues which did not include preying upon the elderly."

Restraining orders banning Whitesmith from contacting the women for 10 years were also made.

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