A CARE home administrator stole more than £60,000 from the premises to enable her to enjoy a life of luxury, a court heard.

Julie Elizabeth Everett, 51, was yesterday jailed for 15 months after admitting two charges of theft, covering the six years she worked at St Mary’s Nursing Home, in Chester-le-Street, until her crimes came to light in October, 2006.

The initial sum in the charges was £73,638, but the prosecution accepted her pleas on the basis it was £60,385, at a previous hearing.

Durham Crown Court heard that Everett used her position overseeing finances at the premises, in Church Chare, to pocket cash payments made by relatives to meet residents’ fees and pocket money.

She falsified records and used local authority and relatives’ cheque payments to try to cover her activities until the irregularities emerged when a Gainford Care Homes finance director carried out an audit, in October, 2006.

It led to him delving further back in the records to reveal a fuller extent of her activities.

Euan Duff, prosecuting, told the court: “There were obvious irregularities and false entries.

“It was equally apparent that no cash payments had been paid into the account for a considerable amount of time.

“Large amounts of cash were received, yet none was paid in. What the Crown say is quite clear is that the money stolen from these old folk was going, essentially, on a life of luxury.”

Mr Duff said her home, in Ribblesdale Crescent, Penshaw, on Wearside, was furnished to a high standard, with an expensive extension added.

“In a period between January, 2004 and August, 2005, the defendant had nine holidays, paid for substantially in cash, £4,500, rather than by cheque or Visa credit.

“The Crown say this was straightforward deliberate dishonesty to fund an extravagant lifestyle,” Mr Duff said.

Nick Peacock, mitigating, handed seven testimonials to the court, including one from Everett’s employer for the last 18 months, a kitchen company, all speaking highly of her.

Mr Peacock said at the time she worked at the home she suffered a great deal of stress through the breakdown of a first marriage, health problems of her second husband and herself, as well as the recent death of her mother.

“It’s been difficult for her to accept the full extent of what has happened,” he said.

“She’s a woman of previous good character who has made an horrendous mistake and suffered great shame and embarrassment as a result.”

Jailing her, Judge Michael Cartlidge told Everett that although it was the home which largely suffered, rather than the residents, custody was, unavoidable.