A former aged care employee who withdrew $1600 from her elderly client’s account for herself after she took his wallet with his bank card and PIN written down. Candice Groenestein, 28, pleaded guilty to a single count of obtaining a financial advantage by deception at her first appearance in Nowra Local Court on Monday. In agreed facts tendered to the court, the former Illawarra Retirement Trust community care nurse attended an elderly Nowra couple’s house once or twice a week to assist with home care services. Her duties included taking the 93-year-old man, who also has dementia, shopping. In November last year, the man and his 92-year-old wife were admitted to Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital. Groenestein visited the couple in hospital when “at this time she took the wallet from the draw,” facts stated. Groenestein left the hospital and 30 minutes later withdrew $800 from an ATM in Nowra. The next morning she again took $800 from an ATM in Nowra. On December 4, the husband told his wife his wallet was missing and she went looking for it. Groenestein arrived at the hospital and told the wife “Fred’s wallet and key card is in the drawer” and pointed to the bedside table. The noticed the missing cash after viewing his bank statement and reported the matter to police. Groenestein was arrested on March 9, but denied she took the cash for herself. In facts tendered to the court, Groenestein at first told police the wife gave her the key card and PIN to withdraw $800 to give to the neighbour to pay bills and another $800 to buy cakes and magazines for her. Groenestein told police she gave the cash to the wife each time. However, she pleaded guilty to the charge in court. She was convicted and fined $1000 and she was ordered to repay $1600 to the victims within 28 days.
