Care home manager jailed for stealing £55,000 from vulnerable residents

An award-nominated Nottinghamshire care home manager swindled more than £50,000 to buy a hot tub, a car and a caravan with residents’ money.

48-year-old mum Keeley Coleman used bank cards belonging to two vulnerable residents and a ‘pooled’ card for seven others, which were locked in an office safe.

Coleman began managing The Old Vicarage in Ollerton in 2020. The 14-bedroom care home supports residents on the autism spectrum, those with learning disabilities and other severe and complex needs.

A court in Nottingham heard that Coleman began using the residents’ cards immediately after beginning work there five years ago.

Suspicion was only raised after Coleman began questioning the team leader’s money requests for essential items, claiming there was no budget.

Her theft led to residents ‘relying on second-hand donations’. After being arrested and questioned said she stole the cash because she was ‘in debt’, but said she never intended for it to escalate.

Sentencing the mum to two years and seven months in prison, Judge Philip Head said: ‘Over the next three years, you stole £55,000 belonging to nine residents, £21,000 from one alone.

‘At times, when residents were in need, you would say they had insufficient funds in their accounts to meet their needs. On occasions, that meant staff would bring in their own clothing for residents.

‘You saw that and carried on anyway. You bought a new car for your daughter, a caravan and a hot tub for yourself.’

Prosecutor Megan Morrison said: ‘A team leader at the home asked for access for personal residents’ accounts to buy them items such as underwear and was told by the defendant they did not have the budget for such purchases.

‘She left her employment, and after that, it was discovered she had been taking large amounts of cash from the company and residents’ accounts. She did provide a small amount of cash to residents, but each time cash was withdrawn, large amounts were kept for herself.’

Coleman took £21,528 from one resident, £10,457 from another and £23,634 from seven residents combined.

Coleman, of Savile Road, Bilsthorpe, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by abuse of position and one count of false accounting.

Mitigating solicitor Declan Smith said: “Her son has neurodivergent issues and she is the full-time carer for him.’

A spokesperson for Consensus, which bought Creative Care, the former operator of The Old Vicarage, said this week: ‘There is nothing more important to us than protecting the interests of the people we support.

‘We have apologised to the people involved for this terrible breach of trust, and we are close to concluding a process that will ensure they are fully reimbursed.

‘As soon as we were made aware of the situation, we immediately contacted the relevant authorities. We have worked closely with Nottinghamshire County Council and the police during their investigation.

‘We can confirm that the former member of staff has not worked at the service since October 2023. Additionally, we have undertaken a comprehensive review and strengthened our financial auditing processes.

‘We are confident that we have the robust systems in place to ensure this will not happen again.’

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