Heartless Scotland carer stole cash from Old Age Pensioner's handbag while on shift

Chelsi McCormick, 26, nicked £40 from an 89-year-old woman she cared for.

Paisley Sheriff Court

A sheriff has slammed a heartless Paisley carer after she was caught in a CCTV sting stealing cash from an Old Age Pensioner’s handbag.

Chelsi McCormick, 26, nicked £40 from an 89-year-old woman she cared for.

Deceitful McCormick distracted the “vulnerable” woman and stole from her handbag when she was not looking.

After suspecting that the employed carer was stealing from the elderly victim, the family set up CCTV in the woman’s home in Marchbank Gardens, Paisley, to catch the shameless crook in the act.

On Friday at Paisley Sheriff Court, Sheriff Eoin McGinty slammed McCormick’s behaviour as he gave her a non-custodial sentence.

He said: “Society is revolted by this behaviour where you were in paid employment, and you took advantage of a vulnerable person you were supposed to be looking after who was then 89 years old.

“A custodial sentence would be highly appropriate and justified.”

The sheriff added: “I watched the CCTV, and I saw the casual way you took the money; this was opportunistic.

“You distracted this woman; you went into her purse and took £40.

“Until I had these background reports this morning that he called for, I was only considering a custodial sentence.”

McCormick, of Morar Drive, also admitted assaulting PC Gary Diver by trying to kick him in the town’s Oliphant Crescent on May 4th, 2019.

Sheriff McGinty took a step back from custody and imposed a community payback order.

McCormick was placed under the supervision of the social work department for two years and ordered to conduct 180 hours of unpaid work within the community within 12 months.

The disgraced carer was also ordered to wear a tag for four months, keeping her within her home address from 7 pm to 7 am each day.

Sheriff McGinty warned McCormick that if she breached the order, he would have no choice but to consider jail.