Shaylan Gassan pleads guilty to spending spree on dementia patient’s credit card
A pokies addiction has played a role in a young healthcare worker’s credit card swindle where she used her trusted role to steal thousands from an elderly dementia patient who was in her care.
Police & Courts
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A young healthcare worker exploited her position to steal money from an elderly dementia patient in her care, a court has been told.
Shaylan Jay Gassan’s conduct was described as a “gross breach of trust” in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday after she admitted to defrauding a vulnerable person she was supposed to be looking after.
Details of the 24-year-old’s scheme were revealed following her guilty pleas to charges of stealing and fraud.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said Gassan was employed by a nursing care facility to look after the victim, with the offences taking place over a period of weeks.
The court heard Gassan stole the credit card from a patient in December last year at Mount Coolum and used it to make purchases of up to $3880.
She was charged on February 2, 2024.
“She conducted balance inquiries after she had drained the account,” Sergeant Newman said.
“This is a gross breach of trust of the position that she was in.”
Gassan’s solicitor, Michael Robinson, revealed that she had developed a gambling addiction to the pokies over two years.
He said she had managed to contain her addiction by “staying away from pubs”.
Acting magistrate Michael Bice described Gassan’s actions as “very disappointing” and condemned her betrayal of trust.
“There is a need for a high level of trust in that environment when you’re dealing with patients that don’t necessarily understand what’s going on around them,” Mr Bice said.
“You took advantage of that.”
The court heard that Gassan has since taken up work in a local cafe.
Mr Bice sentenced her to 18 months of probation and 200 hours of community service.
Gassan was also ordered to pay $3880 in compensation to the victim.
Considering her young age and lack of prior criminal history, Mr Bice opted not to record a conviction.
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