Overview
- Amy Bassett was sentenced to 52 months in prison after admitting one count of dwelling theft and three counts of fraud by false representation, a judgment handed down on Friday, November 6.
- Prosecutors said the offending formed a sustained pattern between January and December 2024 that targeted two elderly women who required high levels of care because of severe dementia.
- Offences included taking an engagement ring and wedding ring from a resident and selling them at a pawnbroker, attempting to deposit a fraudulent cheque that was stopped by a bank, and fraudulently opening a credit card in a victim’s name.
- Avon and Somerset Police described the inquiry as lengthy and complex and said the offences represented an abuse of trust; officers have stayed in contact with the victims’ families and offered specialist support.
- The case highlights gaps carers can exploit and the role of banks and prosecutors in preventing loss, a development that could prompt tighter safeguards in care settings and closer financial monitoring of vulnerable clients.