Prison for theft from aged client

A caregiver who ripped off tens of thousands of dollars from her elderly and disabled client has been jailed for two years.

Kathleen Brooking, 69, was found guilty in March of one charge of obtaining by deception and two of obtaining by false pretences after she took more than $45,000 from Karori piano teacher Dorothy Downing, with whom she lived as a caregiver.

Miss Downing died aged 85 in 2004, after which Brooking's deception was discovered.

Miss Downing had been born with both hips dislocated and Brooking lived with her for four years as a companion and home help until she died.

But as well as helping Miss Downing, Brooking helped herself to her money - $39,140 for the supposed development of sections in Levin, and $5700 she told Miss Downing she needed for eye surgery.

In the Wellington District Court yesterday Brooking's lawyer, Peter Gilbert, asked for a sentence that would have spared her prison.

He said her health was poor - Brooking entered the dock with the aid of a crutch - and said she had cared for Miss Downing well.

But Judge Jan Kelly said the offending involved a substantial breach of trust against an elderly woman who trusted her and she did not see any mitigating factors that meant Brooking should not have to go to jail.

- NZPA