Bristol care home worker jailed for stealing

A care worker who stole more than £1,000 from a vulnerable man who he should have been looking after has been jailed for 32 weeks.

Jorge Alves, who was employed by Brandon Trust at their home in Priory Road, Knowle, forged cheques to snatch £1,390 from resident Steve Newman's account and grabbed £485 cash from other residents and the home's petty cash, Bristol Crown Court heard.

The court was told Alves was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 26 and started to take heroin – beating the killer disease but ending up with a 12-year drug habit.

Alves, aged 38, pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft and six of fraud.

Imposing sentence, the Recorder of Bristol, Judge Tom Crowther QC told him: "You are a man of considerable talent and ability and it's a tragic addiction to drugs that has led you here today…

"This was a singularly mean series of offences, a breach of trust of a high order and the sum was not inconsiderable."

Richard Posner, prosecuting, said Alves wrote a letter of apology to the Trust, acknowledging he had taken advantage of vulnerable people, which he viewed as "terrible" and would "deeply regret" for the rest of his life.

Matthew Comer, defending, said his client had repaid £350 to Brandon Trust.

Mr Comer said: "What led him to take heroin was being diagnosed with cancer aged 26. That was successfully treated but the whole experience led to him feeling depressed and he's been addicted for 12 years."