A woman who took thousands of pounds from a vulnerable teenager to go on shopping sprees has been ordered to pay back just £5 ($6.50).
Marcia Carrod, 50, helped herself to money from the bank account of the teen with learning difficulties.
The care home worker then splashed out on home decorations, restaurant dining, car finance and supermarket shopping.
Swansea Crown Court heard the teenager had a range of learning difficulties so Carrod was put in charge of her finances.
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Sophie Hill, prosecuting, said: "Carrod received training on what she was, and was not, allowed to do with the money. Despite this training, Carrod used thousands of pounds of the teenager's money for her own and her family's purposes."
In total, £12,100 ($15,800) was taken from the teenager's account during two years. Over £500 ($650) was spend on restaurant meals, £400 ($520) on car finance, £90 ($120) on wallpapers, £200 ($260) on petrol, £600 ($780) in supermarkets and more than £2,000 ($2,600) in cash withdrawals.
The teen had a range of issues including global developmental delay and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (otherwise known as ADHD).
Carrod, from Ammanford, west Wales, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position. Her husband, Richard was charged with the same offence but he walked free when no evidence was offered by prosecutors.
David Singh, defending, said: "Carrod accepts that there has been an appalling breach of trust and a complete mismanagement of the complainant's money and that the vast majority of the financial transactions should not have occurred.
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"It is highly unlikely she will ever be able to work in a fostering or caring role again."
Carrod was jailed for eight months, suspended for a year and ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Paul Thomas said: "All in all your conduct was greedy and cynically callous. You stand before the court as a thoroughly dishonest woman who took advantage of that young woman for your own ends."
A Proceeds of Crime hearing was told a figure of £5,000 had been agreed as the amount Carrod had benefited from her criminality.
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But the court heard she had no available assets and a nominal £5 confiscation order was made. She was given 28 days to pay the £5 or face seven days in prison.
Featured Image Credit: Wales News Service