Matron accused of theft by credit card (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Matron accused of theft by credit card

A FORMER director of a nursing home where a matron allegedly used the company credit card to pay for treats for herself told a jury it was "absolutely forbidden" for an employee to use the card for personal goods and services.

Graham Harris, who invested £40,000 in Pirton Grange in Worcester Road, Pirton, said matron Susie Forbes had been warned after inappropriate use of the card.

But, it was alleged at Worcester Crown Court, she kept on using it for clothes, restaurant meals and even for family members to use a tennis club.

Nicholas Cartwright, prosecuting, also claimed she fleeced some of the elderly residents by using their own bank cards to steal cash from their accounts.

Forbes, aged 53, of Oak Tree Cottage, Hanley Swan, near Malvern, denies six charges of theft, five of false accounting and obtaining services by deception.

Mr Harris told the court that in July 2002 there were concern that Forbes, whose salary was £32,000, was using the card for herself. She was "apparently sorry" and kept her job.

But there were more concerns the following year after she set up a loan in the home's name to buy a car.

Forbes, who had been elevated to managing director, was sacked in November that year and insisted to police she was given permission to "top up" her salary with the home's credit card, and money drawn from residents' accounts was cash they had used to buy personal items.

Questioned by defence barrister Abigail Nixon, Mr Harris accepted gross profits at Pirton Grange rose from £229,000 in 2000 to £639,000 in 2004. In 1995 the home was sold for £8m, Mr Harris pocketing £2m.

Miss Nixon said: "There was a large upturn in Pirton Grange's fortunes under the defendant's leadership." She said there was no mention in board minutes of Forbes being warned about wrongful use of the card in 2002 and suggested no warning was ever given.

The trial continues.