A ‘WICKED’ care worker who stole from ‘the most vulnerable members of society’ has been jailed for 15 months.

At the time of the thefts Corrida Richards was employed as a care worker and she preyed on vulnerable elderly persons, who either required help in supported living or care in their own homes.

She stole cheques from a cheque book, personal and sentimental jewellery, a mirror compact case and money from three victims living in the borough of Bromley aged 90 and 91 years old.

In sentencing Richards at Croydon Crown Court Judge Nicholas Ainley described the 31-year-old’s offences as "not just mean, but wicked and perpetrated against the most vulnerable members of society".

Richards, of Canada Gardens, Lewisham, was arrested after an operation involving the police and the agencies she worked for.

She was found guilty of six counts of theft and was sentenced at the court on May 31.

Detective Sergeant Linda Leicester, from Bromley police’s safeguarding adults at risk (SAR) team, said: “These thefts were despicable, a shameful position of trust that Richards had been placed in. “Her conviction is the result of excellent work by members of the SAR team, who linked the crimes using forensic evidence before targeting Richards in a proactive operation.

“We are grateful for the valuable co-operation from the victims’ next of kin and the agencies that she worked for in ensuring that Richards was held accountable for her crimes."