A SOCIAL worker has been spared jail after she stole more than £4,000 from a care home resident.

Andrea Cole, aged 42, of Roch Way, Whitefield, was employed by Bury Council when she committed the offence at Whitefield House in Church Lane, Whitefield, between October 28, 2013 and November 30, 2014.

Cole wrote out nine cheques totalling £4,247 from the account of an 80-year-old resident without authority and deposited them into her own account.

Cole appeared before Bury magistrates on July 17 and admitted committing fraud by abusing a position of trust and acting against the financial interests of her victim with the intention of making a gain for herself.

At a further hearing at Bolton Crown Court last week, Cole was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

Afterwards, a Bury Council spokesman said: "The welfare of our elderly residents is paramount, and we have a long-standing safeguarding procedures in place to protect them.

"This staff member was suspended following the allegations made against her, and was subsequently dismissed after her guilty plea in court.

"We will continue to do all we can to ensure that vulnerable people are safe and receive the respect that they deserve, and will continue to take action against those who abuse the trust placed in them."