Jailed care managers ordered to repay £100,000

Mandy Sargent (50), of Myrtle Crescent in Wickersley, and Joanne Brownhill (47), of Campion Drive in Killamarsh, were jailed for seven years combined last June, after admitting the offence.

Both were back in court on Tuesday, when they were ordered to pay back £122,200.10 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2002.

The money was stolen over seven years from vulnerable residents at a Sheffield care home.

They were told that failing to pay back the money would mean a further nine months in prison for Brownhill and 18 months for Sargent.

The women, who were senior managers at Mansfield View Supported Living Accommodation, managed the finances of adults with learning difficulties.

After being jailed for false accounting, a POCA investigation was launched to recover their ill-gotten gains.

South Yorkshire Police financial investigator Malcolm Lilley said: “Brownhill and Sargent systematically and selfishly made thousands of financial transactions for residents, making every effort to hide where they were getting this money from.

“The victims were vulnerable and relied on these two women for help and support every single day.

“They were in a position of trust and abused that, taking from people who had placed their confidence in them.”

Mr Lilley added: “I’m pleased that the court has made confiscation orders against both of these defendants, instructing them to compensate the elderly victims who were within their care.

“Where someone is thought to have benefited from criminal activity, our financial investigation team will always look in to this and where possible, will seek to seize their ill-gotten gains or have them repaid through the Proceeds of Crime Act.”