SUPPORT WORKER WHO STOLE FROM VULNERABLE MAN JAILED
A support worker who embezzled funds from a man with learning difficulties to support his gambling habit has received a prison sentence.James Huxted, employed at a supported living residence in Bexley that served vulnerable adults, repeatedly accessed a bank card owned by a 63-year-old individual with complex needs.
Woolwich Crown Court was told that Huxted was initially suspected of stealing as much as £16,000.
However, police investigations confirmed only about £2,000 could be definitively linked to his actions.
Prior to the theft, the victim was managing a semi-independent lifestyle, but following the incident, he has regressed in his independence.
A care manager described the emotional impact, saying, 'He believed James was a friend.
It’s like he experienced a loss one moment he had him, and the next he was gone.' Huxted, aged 41 and from Dartford, was sentenced to ten months in prison on Friday, May 15, after pleading guilty to abuse of position for fraudulent purposes.
Prosecutor Efstathios Divaris explained that Huxted was employed by Ambient to work with vulnerable adults at the supported living facility.
In August of the previous year, staff members were alerted by the victim that Huxted had been pilfering from his bank account.
While the total missing amount was reported as £16,000, police could only confirm £2,000 as stolen by Huxted.
The case was handed over to law enforcement, and he confessed to the thefts.
“He said he had a gambling addiction and also used the money to pay rent,” Mr Divaris said.
“He said he didn’t know when this started and how much money he took from the victim.” Police used CCTV to analyse a one-month period, finding footage of Huxted withdrawing a total of £1,600 from the victim’s account on six separate days.
Huxted had even continued to steal from the victim after he had raised concerns about money missing from his account, Mr Divaris said.
Graham Blower, defending, said his client is thoroughly ashamed of his actions.
“He was gambling on machines within betting shops and it got to the stage where all his wages would go, and that’s when he started to do what he regrets,” Mr Blower said.
“The impact on the victim is known to him and he expresses his deep regret and shame.” Huxted was dismissed by the agency but has been doing manual work since and has paid £400 back to the victim.
“He wants to pay back the rest,” Mr Blower said.
Judge Charlotte Welsh described it as a gross abuse of trust.
“I don’t know exactly how many times you took money out of [the victim’s] account, nor do I know how long you were taking money from him, but I can infer properly that it was very many times,” Judge Welsh said.
"What you did was to treat his money as if it were your own, without any thought of the consequences for him.” The judge detailed the impact the offence had on the victim – causing him to become increasingly anxious, to drink heavily and to become less independent.
Judge Welsh concluded: “An immediate sentence of imprisonment is required, not least to deter others from behaving as you have.”
