SHE was put in a position of trust – to look after a Hampshire grandad confined to a wheelchair following a severe stroke.

But carer Angela Smith ended up abusing her role and stealing money from savings stashed in a bedside drawer in 66-year-old Paul Lonergan’s bedroom.

But it was only when Mr Lonergan’s family became suspicious and turned detective that 30-year-old Smith was caught.

They had told police but officers said that they needed proof before taking any action.

Determined to find the culprit, Mr Lonergan’s family went on to the Internet and bought a camera disguised as an alarm clock costing £30.

It was installed in Mr Lonergan’s bedroom opposite his bedside drawer inside which was cash with the serial numbers jotted down.

Then they waited until Smith, who worked for SCA Group, next dropped by Mr Lonergan’s bungalow in Barton-on-Sea before viewing the camera footage of her visit.

Kelly Wickens, prosecuting, said: “It showed the defendant coming in as her duty as a carer and shows her entering the cupboard and removing the cash.”

The video filmed Smith dressed in a green apron and gloves entering his bedroom and making his bed before opening a bedside drawer.

Smith then helped herself to the notes and appears to count them on the bed she has just made. The carer then closes the drawer and stuffs the wad of £130 in her apron pocket without any visible signs of nervousness.

With the proof she needed Mr Lonergan’s ex-partner, Catherine Lonergan, then handed the footage to police, who within hours had detained Smith.

At Southampton Magistrates Court she admitted stealing an unknown amount of cash in May this year and another count of stealing £130 in June.

Magistrates imposed a community order for 18 months with 250 hours’ unpaid work and a compensation order of £175 plus £85 court costs.

Smith will also be tagged and curfewed between 7pm and 5am for four months.

They also rejected a plea for her curfew to be adjusted to allow her to enjoy a prebooked holiday.

Jonathan Simpson, defending, said his client, who has no previous convictions, immediately came clean to police and was now receiving counselling to make sure she did not repeat what she did.

“She knows she has done wrong,” he said.

Smith, from New Milton, who worked as a carer for ten years, lost her job but now has a job as a shop supervisor lined up at a newsagent to help her support her family, he said.

Speaking outside the court, Mr Lonergan, who also has speech difficulties, and his family said they were “happy” justice had been done, a sentiment echoed by his family who had gathered by his side to see Smith sentenced.

Mr Lonergan used to run Lonie’s Angling Centre in New Milton until his stroke which left him paralysed down his right side and needing a wheelchair.

Standing by his side, daughter Angela Quarterman, 45, from Devon, said: “I think it was disgusting she could come into his home and do what she liked.

“I want that girl never to be put in a position of trust like this again.”

SCA Group said it suspended Smith immediately Hampshire Police charged her and then sacked her days later as the investigation progressed.

Pam Butler, Executive Director of Care, SCA Group social enterprise, Southampton, said that a review of procedure was now taking place.

She said: “We take any incidents relating to the safety of service users and their property very seriously.

All our care staff are CRB checked, receive comprehensive training and are regularly supervised.

“We take a wide number of precautions to minimise the risk of this type of incident happening but we cannot eliminate the risk completely.

Incidents such as this case are rare and we will always take the strongest action against any member of staff who is found to be acting dishonestly.”