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ST PAUL'S CRAY: Anger at 'derisory sentence' for thieving carer

4:12pm Friday 23rd July 2010 in


A THIEVING carer who stole from an elderly disabled woman has ‘got off lightly’, according to the victim’s family.

Angela Holman, aged 33, worked as Eileen Forte’s carer for two years and Mrs Forte thought of her as being like a granddaughter.

But a covert camera set up in the living room of her house in Riverside Close, St Paul’s Cray, showed Holman taking money from the 87-year-old stroke victim’s handbag.

Angela Holman was caught red handed by a concealed camera

She pleaded guilty to stealing a total of £60 and was sentenced at Bromley Magistrates Court last Wednesday (July 21) to a 150 hour community order.

Holman, of Blythe Hill, St Paul’s Cray, must also pay £40 compensation to the victim and £85 court costs.

The camera recorded her stealing on two separate occasions

Mrs Forte’s granddaughter Tina Priestman, 47, slammed the ‘derisory sentence’.

She said: “Our family is appalled and disgusted at the derisory sentence and I think the compensation was an insult.

“The compensation does not even cover what she stole and there is no compensation for the anguish that she put Nan through.

“She stole off an elderly vulnerable disabled lady and they just said ‘pay £40’.

Mrs Priestman, also of Riverside Close, says she thinks Holman should have been jailed.

She said: “We do not think the punishment fits the crime.”

“I would have liked her to get at least six months and then she would have probably do two or three and I think that would have been a just punishment.

“I think she has got off lightly.”

Comments(19)

Locked and Loaded says...
4:33pm Fri 23 Jul 10

Great picture Holman. It really shows you up for what you are, a low life. Thanks NS for naming and shaming this 'A' hole. Lets hope a few of the national papers have the go nads to do the same.

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jencon says...
12:30am Sat 24 Jul 10

From what i can make of this is that you haven't got your facts right. Why is there just one date of the camera fotage to Miss Holman and not the other photo. Miss Holman has been in regret and is disgusted with what she has done, she and her family are paying for this. Obviously this is why the Judge gave her this sentence

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Locked and Loaded says...
12:49am Sat 24 Jul 10

jencon, b2 the facts are this low life stole money from a vulnerable old lady. WTF have dates on photos got to do with it, don't come on here trying to defend this thieving, no good piece of crap. As for regrets, all she regrets is getting caught. She should of thought about the disgrace to herself and her family before dipping the old ladies bag.
I have no sympathy for thieves, even less for scum who steal off old people.

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ksc says...
3:35pm Sat 24 Jul 10

jencon wrote:
From what i can make of this is that you haven't got your facts right. Why is there just one date of the camera fotage to Miss Holman and not the other photo. Miss Holman has been in regret and is disgusted with what she has done, she and her family are paying for this. Obviously this is why the Judge gave her this sentence
What !!! are you really defending this pond scum (apologises to all genuine pond scum) it looks like your trying to infer that this low life was for some reason set up, that an 87 year old stroke victim was in cahoots with someone to stitch up poor innocent Angela Holman, who was, bless her heart, only trying to do her best for an elderly frail pensioner. Perhaps you should ask her to care for your mother, grandmother, or relative, or are you related to her? that would explain your defence of this scum. Low life...that doesn't even scratch the surface.

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Victim's Granddaughter says...
8:44pm Sun 25 Jul 10

I would like to say that we were all devastated when the video proved that Angela (known to us as Angie) was the one that was stealing my grandmothers money. We had known for several weeks that the thief was Angie but we knew we had to have proof in order to secure a conviction.Therefore we had to wait until a camera was successfully installed. This period of time was extremely distressing and upsetting for us. We had 'heard' that Angie had been accused of stealing before from her other elderly charges but allowed to carry on working as it was her 'word' against theirs.
It had been concerning me for several months that my nan could not account for the amounts of money that was disappearing weekly from her purse but (unfortunately) she was adamant that she trusted her carers, especially Angie. She had even asked Angie at times to transfer money from her savings box to her purse (big and costly mistake!). She refused to believe that anyone could, or would do such a thing.
Eventually my nan was alerted to the fact that money had definitely been taken from her purse. It was then she knew that something needed to be done. At this point she told me that her christmas savings had disappeared and she now realised that it was stolen.
We are not gloating in the fact of ‘catching’ Angie and these last few months have been traumatic for my nan and indeed for all of us. It has made her anxious and tearful and she feels so betrayed.
Only Angie knows exactly how much money she has stolen from my grandmother since she has cared for her and if she is as regretful as jencon, b2 says that she is then Miss Holman should repay her what she has truly taken (and not just the £40 that the court has ordered).
PS jencon, b2 maybe you could remind her that she still owes my nan £50 from the money she borrowed for that sob story she fed her last year.

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James94 says...
9:23pm Sun 25 Jul 10

Miss Holman has a decent and nice family who have also been devastated by this event. She has been punished in a court of law and will have to live with the consequence of her action. Sympathy can waver though when innocent parties are being hurt and affected by no fault of their own. I'm sure Mrs Forte would not wish this.

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My two cents says...
9:44pm Sun 25 Jul 10

James94, I think you are missing the point.

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My two cents says...
10:04pm Sun 25 Jul 10

I have no doubt that Mrs. Forte understands that the 'thiefs' family are devastated to find out that their, mother, sister, grand daughter etc.etc. is an actual thief. The point that Mrs.Forte was making was that the punishment did not fit the crime. I doubt very much that this was the first time Angela Holman stole from Mrs. Priestmans grandmother as she rightly suspected her for a long time before she smartly arranged for the cameras to be installed. I refer to the orignal story that broke 2 weeks ago ( http://www.newsshopp
er.co.uk/news/825599
1.ST_PAUL_S_CRAY__Co
vert_camera_catches_
carer_stealing_from_
stroke_victim/ ) on the NS from the comment that 'erica3' made that said and I quote: "I truly suspect Mrs Forte was not the only victim of Angela,as a friend informed me of another person who she cared for also had disappearing money.
I truly suspect Mrs Forte was not the only victim of Angela,as a friend informed me of another person who she cared for also had disappearing money" end quote. So what would you have your money on if your life depended on it james94? Was this the only person she stole from? I suspect you are a family member of the Holmans.

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Locked and Loaded says...
11:38pm Sun 25 Jul 10

James94, get lost. Your only concern is for the family of the low life 'Miz' Holman. How about some thought for the victim and her family. How about Holman and her 'decent nice' family pay back every thing she stole from vulnerable old people. I'm sure they must have benefited from her crime in someway or another. Then come back with your whoa is me tale, you just may find some sympathy. Not from me though I may add.

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jencon says...
1:05am Mon 26 Jul 10

I am not related or do not no Miss. Holman. All i can say is that you named her and shamed her. If she has children dont you think they are suffering to. Have any of you said "I would never get that low to do that", not meaning what Miss. Holman has done. I have so that is why im defending her. Miss Holman, if i was you i would stand up and defend yourself because it seems they are blaming you things that you haven't been charged for. This is your name and family that you have got to defend here. I have been there and didnt bother coz i thougtht no one would believe me. Give them your story of whats happened

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Locked and Loaded says...
1:21am Mon 26 Jul 10

jencon, b2 what are you trying to tell us that Holman has or had a 'habit' ? Is that her excuse for stealing off frail old ladies ? Perhaps the magistrate should have sentenced her to 500 lines !!

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porkpie says...
10:37am Mon 26 Jul 10

jencon wrote:
I am not related or do not no Miss. Holman. All i can say is that you named her and shamed her. If she has children dont you think they are suffering to. Have any of you said "I would never get that low to do that", not meaning what Miss. Holman has done. I have so that is why im defending her. Miss Holman, if i was you i would stand up and defend yourself because it seems they are blaming you things that you haven't been charged for. This is your name and family that you have got to defend here. I have been there and didnt bother coz i thougtht no one would believe me. Give them your story of whats happened
I sometimes forget that there are "challenged" persons in this world who find these things more difficult. If I had known, that this was your case then I would have never read your post. It just wouldn't have been "right". Sort of like parking in a handicap space. I wish you the best of luck in the emotional, and social struggles that seem to be placing such a demand on you. ............... The only thing worse than your logic is your manners. I cannot believe how incredibly stupid you are. I mean rock-hard stupid. Dehydrated-rock-hard stupid.

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Careukworker1 says...
8:00pm Mon 26 Jul 10

I worked with miss Holman and am ashamed that she could do this, the problem is every1 is jumping on the bandwagon with how much money she took. After reading the victims family message about how miss holman owes money from her sob story I think is irrelevant as miss forte should not of leant any money this is where the professional boundary is blurred, if miss Holman needed money den she
Should of worked more hours and stop booking off sick. Also miss forte should not of leant or
Given money so miss Holman could have a good
Holiday.
At no point am I condoning this behaviour and am ashamed to work for the company but would never take money off or ask clients for it.

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ksc says...
11:09pm Mon 26 Jul 10

jencon wrote:
I am not related or do not no Miss. Holman. All i can say is that you named her and shamed her. If she has children dont you think they are suffering to. Have any of you said "I would never get that low to do that", not meaning what Miss. Holman has done. I have so that is why im defending her. Miss Holman, if i was you i would stand up and defend yourself because it seems they are blaming you things that you haven't been charged for. This is your name and family that you have got to defend here. I have been there and didnt bother coz i thougtht no one would believe me. Give them your story of whats happened
I knew it ! your her flaming mother.

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bligeyoreilly says...
1:46pm Tue 27 Jul 10

jencon wrote:
I am not related or do not no Miss. Holman. All i can say is that you named her and shamed her. If she has children dont you think they are suffering to. Have any of you said "I would never get that low to do that", not meaning what Miss. Holman has done. I have so that is why im defending her. Miss Holman, if i was you i would stand up and defend yourself because it seems they are blaming you things that you haven't been charged for. This is your name and family that you have got to defend here. I have been there and didnt bother coz i thougtht no one would believe me. Give them your story of whats happened
Jencon, you say it all in your post "if she has children dont you think they are suffering too".

Should this scumbag not have thought of her children before she started stealing off of frail old ladies?

She obviously thought she would never be caught. Good on the family for catching her out and I hope she does suffer for her crime.

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paulyboy says...
4:21pm Wed 28 Jul 10

Disgraceful sentence should of been jailed the wrongen. Hang your head I'm shame Angie...

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wezzo says...
6:45pm Wed 28 Jul 10

dnt steel from any1 exept banks! banks steel from every1 and so do the the government. so rob them!:)

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porkpie says...
12:45pm Thu 29 Jul 10

wezzo wrote:
dnt steel from any1 exept banks! banks steel from every1 and so do the the government. so rob them!:)
And we the Joe Public end up paying for it. Not the sharpist tool in the box are you. How did you get here? Did someone leave your cage open ?

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Gooner1976 says...
12:17am Mon 2 Aug 10

Awful crime and punishment well deserved. I in no way defend this person but have a big problem with most of the comments posted on here, the same people leave virtually the same rubbish on every story. Prison costs the tax payer 40k a year per prisoner! Prisons should be reserved for Murderers, violent thugs, drug dealers and paedophilles. There are much cheaper forms of punishment that have a much better chance of preventing reoffending. Rather than counselling a Paedophille keep them locked away and use these resources on petty criminals. There is is a far greater hope of a Psychlogist rehibilitating a thief as oppose an evil man who preys on children!!!! 40 hours of Community service per week with house arrest at all other times would also be more effective.

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More News stories


Angela Holman was caught red handed by a concealed camera The camera recorded her stealing on two separate occasions Money was taken from Eileen Forte's handbag The camera was hidden behind this card

Angela Holman was caught red handed by a concealed camera

The camera recorded her stealing on two separate occasions

Eileen Forte thought of Holman as being like a granddaughter

The camera was hidden behind a greetings card



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