A carer who stole from an elderly lady with Alzheimer’s after she was caught on a hidden camera shoving a £10 note in her bra has been fined £700.

Sarah Leacy, 33, from Tildesley Road, Putney, was found guilty of theft, in breach of trust, after she was secretly filmed stealing £10 notes from Monica Flanagan, 90, from Putney.

The victim’s children Annemarie Key, Eileen Flanagan and Stephen Flanagan, installed a small camera in their mum’s home after they noticed money going missing from a secure cash box in the kitchen.

Leacy was found guilty of two counts of theft at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, December 4.

Today (Monday, December 8) Leacy was sentenced to 80 hours of unpaid work and fined £700 – including £20 compensation and a £60 victim surcharge.

During both incidents, on June 13 and July 7 this year, two £10 notes were taken by Leacy. She denied everything in police interview, swearing on her nan and granddad’s ashes she had never taken cash out of the box.

However, the court heard Leacy completely changed her story when police told her she had been caught on CCTV.

She admitted taking the notes but claimed she bought milk, bread and toilet cleaner for her client.

District judge James Henderson dismissed her claims and found her guilty of both charges.

An estimated £300 is believed to have been stolen from the victim over the course of the year.

Detective Constable Steve Isom of Wandsworth CID said: "The family of the 90-year-old victim trusted Leacy with the care of their mother who suffers with severe Alzheimer's. This case demonstrates a clear abuse of that trust.

"Despite two thefts being recorded on CCTV that was installed by the victim's family, Leacy has never admitted or apologised for her actions even when faced with the CCTV evidence."