A CRUEL carer who pocketed thousands from a ‘vulnerable, lonely and trusting’ woman under her charge has been struck off by social work watchdogs.

An inquiry found Janice Cowan took advantage of the woman, who suffers from multiple health problems, after she agreed initially to loan her £60 and handed over her bank card.

Cowan abused her trust by making a further 13 withdrawals, over a period of 10 months, after cajoling her into giving out her cash card with ‘sob stories’ and promising her that the money would be paid back.

The withdrawals, which totalled more than £3000, were made between July 25 2016 and May 9 2017 while the woman was under the care of Glebe House Care Home in Ayr, which offers supported living and respite care for adults.

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The victim told how Cowan approached her at Christmas looking for cash and she had initially refused to give her the card but later relented.

The woman finally reported the cash withdrawals to a nurse, fearing that the money would not be repaid. Managers were said to be “horrified” when they learned how much money had been taken.

A witness to an inquiry by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) said the woman, referred to as AA in the inquiry papers, was “upset and confused.”

“She couldn’t understand why the money hadn’t been paid back.”

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The police were called and the incidents were reported to the Care Inspectorate and the SSSC.

The inquiry was told that Cowan had re-paid some of the money and was “ashamed” of her actions.

The SSSC told Cowan: “Your actions were serious, deliberate and amounted to a significant breach of trust.

“A Removal Order is the only sanction that will ensure that service users are not placed at risk of harm.”

The victim told how the experience had left her ‘less trusting.’