A CARE home worker has narrowly avoided jail after stealing thousands of pounds to pay off her son’s drug debts.

Jayne Gibson embezzled more than £14,000 from BUPA’s Craigbank Care Home, where she worked as an administrator, before she gave herself up in 2014.

The 42-year-old Glasgow woman and her son had been threatened with violence if they failed to pay the cash he owed to drug dealers.

Out of desperation, Gibson started stealing money from the Saracen Street home, pinching £14,743 in total over the space of two and a half years.

The former administrator, who has never had any previous convictions, was responsible for managing the private care home’s residents’ fees and petty cash.

Only 10 out of the home’s 80 residents paid for their accommodation in cash, and it was their accounts that had been used to embezzle the funds.

A total of £1829 of the missing cash also came from residents’ personal accounts at the home, which they used to buy essential items.

Gibson pleaded guilty to stealing to money last month at Glasgow Sheriff Court, and was sentenced yesterday before Sheriff Kelly.

The court heard Gibson “got to the point she could no longer cover her tracks and decided to admit the offence”.

She had been using unofficial receipt books to create false entries, and taken the money for herself.

Gibson’s solicitor told Sheriff Kelly his client had tried to get a loan initially to cover the debts, and was unable to so was "left with the option of committing this offence."

Eventually she admitted what she had done to her sister, saying she could no longer work in the home due to her crime.

Her sister, who worked for the same company, reported the incident to their employer and the police were contacted.

Gibson's solicitor said: “It was quite clear she was the whistleblower.

“Her sister worked in the company too and she knew if she told her it would be reported.

“This is a lady who is 42 who has never been in trouble in her life but was because of her son and his activities.”

He added: “ Because the money stopped being paid to the drug dealers she had to abandon her home.

“She is terrified.

“I think it is fair to say this is a lady who will never grace the inside of a court room again.

“ She shows genuine remorse. She had an entirely blameless life with a good, hard work ethic.

"She would love to try and pay this back. She is also genuinely upset for the embarrassment she has caused her sister. "

Sheriff Kelly said while the nature of the offence would usually involve jail time, he was willing to give Gibson the maximum community service time instead due to the fact she had no previous convictions.

He said:” It is clearly recognised that in relation to offences of this sort custody is an option.

“You are clearly remorseful...You volunteered information which led to the detection of this offence.”

Gibson was ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work within 12 months, and was told if she fails to fulfill the community service order she will come back before the sheriff to be send to jail.