SUFFOLK CARE WORKER GIVEN COMMUNITY ORDER FOR SEXUAL MESSAGES
A Suffolk support worker accused of exchanging inappropriate text messages with a vulnerable man in her care has been given a two-year community order.Before Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, November 1 was 33-year-old Naomi Richards, of St Edmund’s Road, Stowmarket.
The defendant had denied inciting the victim to engage in sexual activity but was found guilty following a three-day trial.
She had also denied engaging in sexual activity with a man with a mental disorder in her care between May and June 2019 while she was a support worker, and was cleared of this offence following the trial.
Judge Emma Peters addressed the defendant in the dock and said: “You were supposed to care for him and to look after him, that was your job.
I accept you are a relatively simple woman, but it would be obvious when you’re a care worker you must not seek to get involved with those you care for.
You’ve never really had a proper relationship that must be quite hard for a woman of your age.
I think what you were doing here was trying to make up for what you were missing in your personal life.
You didn’t sit and think this through in any sophisticated way.” She added: “You took advantage of this young man.
You have got the diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder and there is work that can be done to help you to make sure you don’t cross this line again.
You need some help to move yourself forward.” Richards was given a two-year community order with 60 rehabilitation activity days and was ordered to pay a fine of £200.
She will also be on the sex offender register for the next five years.
