A FORMER carer is facing jail after being convicted of a string of dishonesty offences after embarking on an 18-week shopping spree with her 80-year-old client’s debit card.
Sandra Natalie Jardim De Sousa (43) was entrusted with the woman’s card to help with chores such as shopping, but instead used it to make purchases for herself – including an Apple Watch, Apple Airpods, a Beldray hoover and a juicer.
The offences span an 18-week period between November 2024 and March 2025, during which she made 40 withdrawals from a cash machine with the woman’s bank card.
Crown Advocate Christina Hall, prosecuting, previously told jurors that De Sousa’s client – described in court as “in every way a vulnerable lady” – had hired a care agency after major surgery.
Carers were required to help with tasks such as cleaning, cooking and shopping and Ms De Sousa was given PIN codes to the woman’s bank cards to purchase groceries.
Instead, De Sousa used her client’s money on shopping splurges in M&S, Boots, JT, Voisins, Superdrug, Next, Coop and Iceland.
Purchases made during the period included make-up, hair products, energy drinks, dog food, rosé wine, medicines, chocolate milkshake, sweets, age-restricted products called “Peach Beach” and “Christmas on the Beach”, popping candies and fruit yule loaf.
In March 2026, the elderly woman discovered that “money had been drained to an almost nil balance” upon receiving an alert from the bank, jurors were told.
It was said that a total of £7,000 was spent illicitly by Ms De Sousa over the period of offending.
Giving evidence, the defendant insisted that she was not “able to say” whether she made the alleged withdrawals because she did not have access to the relevant financial care charts and care notes.
She repeatedly denied withdrawing cash from the woman’s account and using the card on items for herself.
De Sousa further denied ever using her client’s card “deliberately and dishonestly”; describing alleged incidents of obtaining goods under false pretences as “accidents” made “because of my carelessness”.
After deliberating for a total of 5 hours and 22 minutes, jurors yesterday returned unanimous verdicts on all twelve counts.
The prosecution asked that De Sousa be remanded in custody given the “inevitable” custodial sentence to follow.
But Advocate Francis Littler, defending, told the court that Ms De Sousa was solely responsible for housing and caring for her children.
Deputy Bailiff Mark Temple, presiding, reflected that “unfortunate disruption to children” was often “an inevitable consequence of serious offending”.
He further noted that it was “difficult to see a custodial sentence not being passed by the court”.
He granted De Sousa a period of two days to arrange care for her children and told her to hand herself into police headquarters on Wednesday at 10am, where she will be “transported to custody”.
De Sousa is due to appear at the Royal Court on Wednesday 24 June to be sentenced before the Inferior Number.
In a statement, officer in the case DC Jess Brown said the defendant had “abused a clear position of trust, taking money from the victim for personal gain”.
She added: “Following our investigation, she was charged and has now been convicted at court.
“This case highlights the seriousness of financial abuse and the harm it causes to vulnerable people.
“Protecting those at risk remains a priority, and we will always act where that trust is broken.”
Lynda McDonald and Lucy-Anne Febers, registered manager and deputy manager respectively of care provider Aurum, where De Sousa had been working at the time of her offending, said: “Our thoughts remain with the vulnerable lady at the centre of this case and her loved ones. What has happened is deeply upsetting, and as a care organisation, it has affected all of us emotionally.
“We would like to reassure everyone that Aurum Home Care have never been under investigation and at no point have we been accused of wrongdoing in relation to this matter. Aurum have always followed safe recruitment procedures, safeguarding practices and professional care standards.
“We welcome the outcome of today’s proceedings and are pleased that justice has been achieved.”
