A CARER who stole from a 72-year-old Orpington man with learning difficulties has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Bibi Rozida Leeming, also known as Rosie Leeming, of Shifford Path, Lewisham, pleaded guilty to one count of theft and was jailed for six weeks, suspended for a year, at Croydon Crown Court last week (March 27).

The 62-year-old was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service.

When Leeming was working as a private carer for the man, she would take him to the bank each week and withdraw £500 on his behalf.

She would then swap the money for smaller denominations, duping him into believing that he was receiving the £500 when in fact it was a smaller amount.

Detectives from Bromley police's Safeguarding Adults at Risk team undertook an operation with the victim's bank and caught Leeming in the act, withdrawing £400, swapping the notes and handing the victim £270.

Leeming was arrested but denied the offence throughout, before changing her plea at the last moment.

A second count of theft of £11,923 was ordered to remain on file by the court.

Leeming also has a previous conviction for benefit fraud.