Woman jailed for fraudulent placements
A woman in South Australia specialising in placing elderly clients into nursing homes has been jailed for three years after failing to deliver the promised service.
The Adelaide District Court heard Tracy Deanna Stewart took payments of up to $64,000 to secure long-term nursing home placements at her aged care facility.
ABC News reports three people gave her the money to secure places for their elderly relatives. They were unaware that Ms Stewart’s lease on the premises was due expire.
She falsely told clients she would pay the money back. The trial heard the woman was bankrupt and had a substantial tax debt.
Judge Dean Clayton said Ms Stewart preyed on the vulnerability of her victims and took money knowing she was never in a position to provide the permanent accommodation she had promised.
She was sentenced to a minimum term of 20 months.
