A self-employed nurse cashed in two Giro cheques worth more £400 belonging to a disabled widow in her care, on the day her patient died.

Sunny Collins, 28, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at Witney Magistrates' Court yesterday to obtaining £428.54 by deception from Ducklington Post Office.

Paul Harrison, prosecuting, said that Collins, who used to live in Burwell Drive, Witney, was appointed to looked after Susan Simpson at her home in Ducklington by social services last July.

He said: "Mrs Simpson was a very sick woman and about Christmas time she was admitted to hospital and on January 15 she died." While Mrs Simpson was in hospital, her daughter had seen her mother sign benefit vouchers so Collins could collect her widow's and disability pensions.

Collins had handed over money in the hospital.

After her mother died, the books were missing and she asked Collins where they were.

Mr Harrison said: "Miss Collins said she had sent them back in the post but in fact she collected two weeks of pensions on the date of Mrs Simpson's death from Ducklington Post Office."

When she was questioned by the police, Collins admitted stealing the money and spending it.

The chairman of the bench, Ben Webster, adjourned the case until June 10 for pre-sentence reports and warned Collins she could face a jail sentence.

Story date: Friday 14 May

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