Care home boss who stole £22k announces return to work in email

A care home manager who was convicted of stealing £22,500 from a resident with dementia has informed staff she will be returning to work next week.

Ann Comer, from Hereford, was sentenced to a year in prison, suspended for 12 months, at Worcester Crown Court on Monday.

On Wednesday, in an email seen by the BBC, she informed staff at Springfield House, Malvern - where she committed the thefts - that she was "fit to be back next week".

A staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were left "gobsmacked" after reading the BBC's report on Comer's conviction and "in disbelief" she has been allowed to go back to work where she committed the crimes.

Comer began working at Springfield House, a specialist dementia care home, in April 2016.

In 2019, she was reported to police after suspicions were raised that she had used the bank card of a resident to make withdrawals and purchases.

Comer denied the offence during a police interview, but an investigation by West Mercia Police's Economic Crime Unit (ECU) found she had moved the victim into the home before stealing her bank card.

Inquiries revealed she was withdrawing an average of £1,400 a month from cash machines and using it to supplement her lifestyle, including a holiday to Dubai.

Officers established a link between the cash withdrawals, correlating to Comer's use of a Matalan store card, to help prove the fraud.

When asked about their reaction to the sentencing, the anonymous staff member said: "Gobsmacked. Yeah, like speechless to begin with.

"But then I became upset and now I think it's just anger."

The BBC understands Comer was working at Springfield House as recently as last week and was even holding full staff meetings.

While she was not in work, care home staff were also told "not to contact her due to personal reasons".

The staff member said they were "absolutely shocked" Comer was being allowed to return to work.

"I'm in disbelief. It's a huge safeguarding issue you know to the residents and what she's done," they said.

"I don't understand how she can continue to stay in her position after she's done that.

"I mean, if I had a family member there you'd be pulling them straight out. Absolutely. You wouldn't want them there."

Harriet Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, has said she was "extremely concerned to hear about this situation".

"Vulnerable residents in this care home should not be put at risk this way and I will be finding out immediately who I can get in touch with to prevent this from happening," she said.

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said the authority took "matters relating to the safety and wellbeing of residents extremely seriously".

"In the light of the recent court case and the outcome involving an individual connected to Springfield House Care Home in Malvern, we continue to work closely with the provider and partner agencies, including the Care Quality Commission, to review the current situation and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place," they said.

The Care Quality Commission has been contacted for comment.

The BBC also approached Springfield House for comment but was instructed by a member of staff to stop contacting them. Comer has also been contacted directly for comment.

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