A care worker who stole £7,200 from a vulnerable woman and blew it during a luxury holiday in Mexico was caught when her husband heard her talking in her sleep about money.

Ruth Fort, 47, from Lancashire, stole the money from a vulnerable and wheelchair-bound woman while working at a care home.

Her husband, Antony, 61, became suspicious after Fort began splurging cash on a family holiday to Mexico – and one month later, he was awoken by his wife talking in her sleep, and found a debit card, belonging to the care home resident, in her purse.

He reported her to the police and Fort appeared before Preston Crown Court in February 2021 where she admitted to stealing £7,200 and was handed a suspended jail sentence of 16 months, with conditions including attending drug rehabilitation sessions. 

This month, Fort appeared before Liverpool Crown Court after breaching the suspended jail sentence, which she admitted, and the judge agreed to give her one last chance.  

Father-of-three Antony says: ‘I had my suspicions when Ruth began over-spending. It was more of an instinct really, at first. But when I found the debit card in her purse, I just knew. It was heartbreaking.

Ruth Fort, 47,  (pictured) stole £7,200 from a vulnerable and wheelchair-bound woman while working at a care home

Ruth Fort, 47,  (pictured) stole £7,200 from a vulnerable and wheelchair-bound woman while working at a care home

Ruth Fort, 47,  (pictured) stole £7,200 from a vulnerable and wheelchair-bound woman while working at a care home

Her husband, Antony, 61, (pictured) became suspicious after Fort began splurging cash on a family holiday to Mexico

Her husband, Antony, 61, (pictured) became suspicious after Fort began splurging cash on a family holiday to Mexico

Her husband, Antony, 61, (pictured) became suspicious after Fort began splurging cash on a family holiday to Mexico

‘I loved Ruth deeply, but I could not ignore what she had done. It was abhorrent to me that she could steal from a vulnerable person and I had to report her.’

Antony, 61, a microbiologist, met Fort whilst he was studying at Liverpool university. They began dating in May 2008 and fell in love over a shared passion for music.

He says: ‘We went to gigs and did a lot of walking. We were really happy together.’

They moved in together in Fleetwood, Lancashire, and were married on New Year’s Eve 2010. But their relationship ran into difficulties.

The couple then moved house again to a picturesque Lancashire village and Fort took up running and fitness and found part-time work as a carer. Antony felt encouraged that their problems were behind them. 

Antony, 61, a microbiologist, met Ruth whilst he was studying at Liverpool university. They moved in together in Fleetwood, Lancashire, and were married on New Year's Eve 2010. The couple are pictured on their wedding day

Antony, 61, a microbiologist, met Ruth whilst he was studying at Liverpool university. They moved in together in Fleetwood, Lancashire, and were married on New Year's Eve 2010. The couple are pictured on their wedding day

Antony, 61, a microbiologist, met Ruth whilst he was studying at Liverpool university. They moved in together in Fleetwood, Lancashire, and were married on New Year’s Eve 2010. The couple are pictured on their wedding day 

Antony says: ‘One night, in August 2018, I picked Ruth up from work and she told me she’d taken one of the care home residents out shopping that day.

‘She said the lady, who was in a wheelchair, had £98,000 in her bank account. Something in the way she spoke just made my heart sink. I realised Ruth must have access to the card and pin number.

‘There was no more to it, but I began worrying, even though I had no reason to. It was an instinct.’

In November 2018, Antony booked a family holiday to Mexico and whilst they were away, Fort began splashing the cash.

Antony says: ‘Ruth booked lots of trips on the holiday. She was spending so much. When I questioned her, she claimed relatives had given her a thousand pounds spending money. I wasn’t sure whether to believe her.’

Anthony, pictured with Fort before discovering her crime, said he 'loved Ruth deeply, but I could not ignore what she had done'

Anthony, pictured with Fort before discovering her crime, said he 'loved Ruth deeply, but I could not ignore what she had done'

Anthony, pictured with Fort before discovering her crime, said he ‘loved Ruth deeply, but I could not ignore what she had done’ 

Early in December 2018, Fort took time off work with epilepsy. One night soon after, Antony was woken by Fort talking incoherently in her sleep. He found her purse on the floor beside her, with four or five £20 notes falling out.

As he closed the purse, Antony noticed a debit card which belonged to the care home resident she had been looking after.

He says: ‘Ruth was mumbling about money and when I woke up, I saw the purse on the floor with a few notes fallen out. I got up to put them back, and in her purse, I saw the debit card.

‘It all clicked into place, and I felt absolutely sickened. I couldn’t believe it. When Ruth woke up, I confronted her, and she admitted everything. I told her to pack her bags and leave. It was heartbreaking, I loved her, and yet I knew I had no choice but to report her.’

Late in December 2018, Antony went to the police and Fort was arrested soon after. She appeared before Preston Crown Court in February 2021.

Antony says: ‘When the case became public there was revulsion in our village. My family really suffered as a result. I had done the right thing and yet I was being judged alongside Ruth.’

Late in December 2018, Antony went to the police and Fort was arrested soon after. She appeared before Preston Crown Court in February 2021

Late in December 2018, Antony went to the police and Fort was arrested soon after. She appeared before Preston Crown Court in February 2021

Late in December 2018, Antony went to the police and Fort was arrested soon after. She appeared before Preston Crown Court in February 2021

Ruth Fort appeared before Preston Crown Court in February 2021 and admitted stealing £7,200.

The court heard she had preyed on the vulnerable woman over a two-month period.

She was handed a suspended jail sentence of 16 months, with conditions including attending drug rehabilitation sessions.

The judge praised Antony for his ‘commendable’ actions, saying: it ‘must have been a very difficult thing to do.’

She told Fort: ‘The temptation here turned into greed, and you should be thoroughly ashamed of your behaviour.’

This month, Fort appeared before Liverpool Crown Court after breaching the suspended jail sentence by twice not attending drug rehabilitation sessions and had also missed a meeting with her probation officer.

Fort admitted to breaching her suspended sentence and the judge agreed to give her one last chance.

He imposed a six-week curfew between 7am and 7pm and warned her that if she breaches the orders or commits any other offences the jail term would probably be activated.

Antony says: ‘My anger has subsided now, and I want to help her. I feel as though the system has failed us so far.’ 

Source: Daily Mail

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