Former Lambert Lodge employee Kellie Ann Telford stole $18k from aged-care resident and spent it on cigarettes

An aged-care manager who used a resident’s ATM card to steal $18,000 spent the money on 50 cigarettes a day.

An aged-care facility manager who used her position to steal more than $18,000 from a resident in a “serious breach of trust” says she spent most of it on cigarettes.

Kellie Ann Telford, 49, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of aggravated take property without consent in Mt Gambier Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The Mil-Lel woman, who worked at Lambert Lodge for about seven years, was able to access the 67-year-old retiree’s bank card and PIN.

The police prosecutor said Telford used the card roughly once a fortnight between June 28, 2019, and January 24, 2020, only turning herself in after an ATM swallowed the stolen card.

The court heard she “fully admitted” during her police interview she had “no right to withdraw the money”.

Kellie Ann Telford appeared at the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Thursday. Picture: Arj Ganesan

“She believed at that point that the card may have been reported as lost or stolen and that’s when she immediately notified the manager,” the police prosecutor said.

Kellie Ann Telford pleaded guilty at the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Tuesday after stealing $18,567 a 67-year-old retiree in her care. Picture: Arj Ganesan

“Matters of this nature are quite serious to the community. It’s a serious breach of trust.”

On Thursday, Telford’s defence lawyer, Jarrad Sim, said the offending began as she was living week-to-week and claimed her employer often was late to pay her.

“That was a significant imposition to her and at times felt desperate as a result,” Mr Sim said.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos questioned Mr Sim’s explanation, highlighting the cash withdrawal dates did not align with a weekly pay schedule.

“Look at the dates, 15th of July, 18th of July that’s not a week apart,” she said.

“What I’m getting at is that it was more than just not getting paid by her employer.”

Mr Sim submitted the initial cash withdrawal occurred after Telford was not paid.

“My client’s intention was that when she did get paid (she would) deposit the money back into the account,” he said.

“She doesn’t know why she didn’t do that other than, perhaps it was easy and she didn’t get caught.”

Mr Sim said the heavy smoker spent most of the $18,567 on cigarettes and was “smoking 40 to 50 a day”.

Acknowledging a sentence of imprisonment was possible, Mr Sim asked for any period to be suspended or served on home detention.

He told the court Telford suffered a number of serious health conditions, including low heart function and had a brain tumour removed.

“My client is also suffering from depression … while she was only diagnosed with depression recently … she has, in hindsight, been suffering from depression for many years,” he said. “She is, your honour, extremely remorseful; more than that, she’s incredibly ashamed of her actions.”

Telford’s court appearance occurred after the Adult Safe Guarding Unit delivered its first annual report into elder abuse earlier this year.

It reported 946 calls were made to the SA Elder Abuse Prevention phone line in 2019-20 highlighting financial abuse was the most common form.

Telford is expected to be sentenced in December.