Helensburgh support worker Belinda Guppy scammed client aged 93 out of $19,000

A Sydney support worker defrauded a 93-year-old woman out of $19,000 while helping her buy groceries during the pandemic, a court has heard.

Belinda Guppy defrauded an elderly client out of more than $19,000. Picture: Elizabeth Pike

An aged care worker defrauded her elderly client out of nearly $20,000 on trips to buy groceries during the pandemic, a court has heard.

Between May 2022 and April 2023, Belinda Guppy withdrew money from the Coles and Commonwealth Bank at Engadine on 34 occasions after being trusted with her client’s bank card and pin for the weekly shop.

Guppy, 50, pleaded guilty at Sutherland Local Court on Thursday to dishonestly obtaining financial advantage before being sentenced to a two year intensive correction order.

Court documents state the Helensburgh woman worked for the 93-year-old for eight years at the time of the offending as an employee of KinCare.

Documents tendered to court state that during this time, Guppy had built up “trust” and a “strong relationship” with her elderly client.

Most of the offending occurred at Commonwealth Bank in Engadine. Picture: Supplied

However, the relationship between the two was not enough to deter the opportunistic offender from stealing $19,850.

The court heard the fraud began when the elderly woman became worried about exposure to public places during the latter stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The victim trusted Guppy with her financial details, however the court heard Guppy started to withdraw sums of between $200 and $900 for herself on top of the shopping.

Two of the occasions occurred at Engadine Coles where the offender bought $181 and $117 worth of groceries before requesting an additional $200 and $360 respectively. The remaining thousands of dollars were withdrawn from the nearby Commonwealth Bank.

In court, Guppy’s defence lawyer submitted Guppy was “struggling” under strong financial stress at the time of the offending but conceded she “did something seriously wrong” as a result.

Belinda Guppy leaving Sutherland Local Court on Thursday after being sentenced. Picture: Dylan Arvela

He told the court the woman was providing for all household expenses and part of the rent after her partner lost work as a carpenter during the pandemic.

However, Magistrate Philip Stewart said Guppy knew she was clearly breaching KinCare policy in accepting the bank card and pin to perform otherwise typical duties.

Mr Stewart found Guppy had taken advantage of her client’s trust and now had “no capacity” to return the money.

“She hasn’t paid a cent back to this poor victim,” he told the court.

Mr Stewart considered whether Guppy should serve an “appropriate” two-year sentence in the community by way of an ICO or whether she should serve full-time custody.

The court heard she hadn’t paid back a cent. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The magistrate noted her lack of prior convictions, low risk of reoffending, assessment as suitable for community service, and the fact she had been in “similar positions of trust” in past roles.

As part of the sentence, Mr Stewart also ordered Guppy complete 300 hours of community service and pay back the full amount stolen from the victim.