The person we trusted most has destroyed our faith in humanity

FAMILY'S AGONY AS CARER JAILED FOR STEALING £20K FROM DISABLED WOMAN

- AMY WALKER

A CARER stole more than £20,000 from a severely disabled woman she was looking after.

Petula Hatzer was employed by Alison Doyle's family for 17 years.

At one point she was tasked with managing her finances. Ms Doyle - who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and dystonia is non-verbal and requires 24-hour attention from live-in carers, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

Hatzer's offences came to light when Ms Doyle's other carers became concerned about deliveries that were clearly not for her.

A police investigation revealed Hatzer, 55, had been spending her money on clothes and items from sites including Next, Amazon and Very.

Prosecutors believe she took more than £20,000 between 2015 and 2018, though the exact amount is unknown. Hatzer, from Newton Heath, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of fraud by false representation and one count of fraud by abuse of position. She was jailed for just under a year and two months.

John Richardson, prosecuting said Ms Doyle lived with her mum and dad for 22 years before moving into her own house, with round-the-clock care. She was entitled to payments from the council, which were initially managed by her mum Lilian Doyle and her sister.