A CARER who duped his 88-year-old client from Tywyn out of nearly £5,000 has received a suspended 12-month sentence in crown court.

Stephen Garbutt, 53, of 6 Brook Street, Tywyn, was found guilty of fraud at Caernarfon Crown Court on 19 August.

Garbutt had previously appeared in Dolgellau Magistrates Court where the prosecution said that, between 6 August and 2 November last year at Tywyn, and when occupying a position of trust as a carer, he dishonestly abused that position by making a gain of £3,840 for himself.

It was also alleged that between 12 October and 17 October last year he made a gain of £1,150 for himself from the same pensioner.

Garbutt was found guilty and given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work, and told to pay compensation of £3,800 and a victim surcharge of £100.