Carer, 53, who stole nearly £1m from vulnerable people is jailed

A carer who stole nearly £1million from vulnerable people she was supposed to be looking after has been jailed for seven years.

Diana Turner, 53, defrauded residents with mental health problems and learning difficulties by using their bank cards to transfer money to herself. 

She spent some of the takings on a Range Rover Evoque with a personalised numberplate – DI4NA T – and also bought an Audi A3 for her son. 

Jurors in Sheffield also heard how she purchased five houses to rent out, including two in Dubai, and went on luxury holidays in Italy and New York. 

She was found guilty after a three-week trial at Sheffield Crown Court where a judge told her she had ‘abused her position of trust’ as a manager at Glastonbury Guest House in the city. 

Judge Graham Reeds QC described Turner as a ‘greedy’ and ‘arrogant’ woman as he sentenced her for seven years on two counts of fraud.

He said: ‘What you did can only be explained by greed. 

You took as much money from them as you could for as long as you could, I’m sure this was arrogance on your part. You decided they didn’t need the money so you took it.’

‘You had power and trust. It’s clear from the evidence you had considerable charm with the residents. Each victim was vulnerable financially. You abused your position of trust and authority over them.’

The 53-year-old was found guilty after a three-week trial where a judge told her she had ‘abused her position of trust’ as a manager at Glastonbury Guest House in the city

South Yorkshire Police said Turner had illegally taken £923,000 from 10 people although her defence lawyers said she had only pocketed £640,000 herself.  

Her illegal takings plus her £50,000 salary and benefits meant Turner was taking home approximately £100,000 a year between 2007 and 2016, Judge Reed said.

The court heard one resident was paying £943 per month into an account in the name of Turner’s mother and some of the sums of cash were paid as ‘rent’.

Turner was caught in 2016 by business owner David Andrews, who noticed some of the residents’ bank accounts were linked to Turner’s.

She tried to blame Mr Andrews because the majority of residents’ fees were paid to him directly from Sheffield City Council. 

Turner also attempted to hide her crimes by removing cash from her home and having residents write letters to their banks saying she was acting in their best interests.

She spent some of the takings on a Range Rover Evoque with a personalised numberplate – DI4NA T – and also bought an Audi A3 for her son

Jurors at Sheffield Crown Court (pictured) heard how Turner purchased five houses to rent out, including two in Dubai, and went on luxury holidays in Italy and New York

She even took some from the home to their local bank branches in attempt to cover her tracks.

Turner’s brothers Khalid, 59, and Waleed Rahman, 58, were accused of laundering the illegal takings but were found not guilty on Monday.

Speaking after the sentencing Detective Constable James Hughes, the investigating officer, said: ‘Over ten years, Turner selfishly and shamelessly took advantage of the vulnerable residents, taking possession and control of their bank cards making regular – and often daily – bank withdrawals to fund the lavish lifestyle she was leading. 

‘The decade of control she exercised over the victims is absolutely abhorrent and I hope that they feel some comfort in knowing she has been jailed. 

‘To abuse her position as a carer with people who trusted her implicitly is absolutely disgusting and I’m pleased that the jury returned guilty verdicts and she will now serve a basic lifestyle in prison.’