A SOUTHAMPTON care worker banned from the sector after stealing from service users has narrowly avoided jail after trying to get a job working with vulnerable people.

Aubrey Rogers, 39, was previously convicted of 22 charges of fraud by false representation and one of theft after preying on victims while a care worker.

Rogers of Adelaide Road, Southampton, stole a bank card belonging to a service user.

Southampton Crown Court heard how he used the card on three occasions, paying for a health and safety course, court costs and a pizza.

But when he used another card to buy food and alcohol, a relative of the victim became suspicious and he was arrested.

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Prosecutor Richard Tutt said Rogers stole £429 in total - and he was barred from working in the care industry.

But now he has been caught applying for a job at SeeAbility as a child and Covid-19 support worker.

The charity works with those with learning difficulties, autism, visual impairments, and mental health difficulties.

Mr Tutt told Southampton Crown Court that after he applied, the service “soon realised that this defendant was on the barred list”.

He added that he has previous convictions for assault and battery.

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Judge Nicholas Rowland said the offence had been committed within 20 days of the end of a suspended sentence order but he does accept that there is a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation”.

He added: “If it wasn’t for the basis of plea this would be an immediate custodial sentence.”

Rogers was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months at a hearing on Friday.

He must also carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, attend up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions, and pay a £100 fine for the breach of the suspended sentence order.

Daily Echo: Southampton Crown Court. Southampton Crown Court.

Mitigating, Keely Harvey said: “He is and he has been a very hard-working man.

“He was told by the Job Centre that he just needed to put down and apply for jobs.

“Yes, he understands he shouldn’t have done. He got the wrong advice from people at the time.”

Rogers is currently looking for long-term jobs and is working part-time cleaning trains.

He admitted engaging or seeking or offering to engage in a regulated activity from which he was barred.

He was barred in 2020 for the offences in West Sussex.