A WORKER who stole cash from an elderly resident at a Barrhead care home has been fined and ordered to pay compensation to her victim.

Laura Thomson, 31, pinched £210 from 66-year-old Kenneth Watt at The Firs nursing home while working as a care assistant there on March 15 last year.

She was arrested after the offence came to light and was also fired from her job.

Thomson, of Kelburn Street, Barrhead, admitted stealing from the pensioner when the case called at Paisley Sheriff Court.

She was not present for the hearing but pleaded guilty by letter.

Sheriff Suhkwinder Gill hit Thomson with a £530 fine and imposed a compensation order that will see her pay the £210 back to Mr Watt.

A spokesperson for The Firs, in Lowndes Street, made it clear that behaviour such as that committed by Thomson would not be tolerated.

“The individual was dismissed from her post immediately,” added the spokesperson.

“I can confirm the individual was reported to the appropriate regulatory bodies.

“This incident is not in line with the ethos here.”

Bosses at the Scottish Social Services Council, which is responsible for raising standards in the social service workforce, said it does not comment on cases it is investigating until after a hearing has taken place.

However, a spokesperson added: “When we receive an allegation that a worker’s fitness to practise may be impaired, we will consider whether there is an issue about a social service worker’s suitability to remain on the Register.”