A thieving employee stole more than £5,100 from six residents at a residential home by pilfering from their accounts, a court heard.

Kimberley Barker, 30, took the money from people aged over 18 with learning difficulties and who were unable to manage their own finances at Washington’s Serlby Close centre.

A court has heard how Barker, previously of Riddings Road, in Hylton Red House, Sunderland, committed six offences between January 9 and November 6 of last year.

She took totals of £1,730, £900, £850, two amounts of £700 and £290 from the men, who live at the accommodation in Coach Road, Usworth.

An employee has admitted stealing thousands of pounds from residents at Serlby Close Residential Home, in Washington.

placeholder image — An employee has admitted stealing thousands of pounds from residents at Serlby Close Residential Home, in Washington.

Barker could face up to three-and-a-half years behind bars for her crimes, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies told the court: “There are six offences of theft admitted by Ms Barker. These relate to residents at Serlby Close.

“These residents are diagnosed with life-long learning conditions and have a lack of capacity to manage their own finances.

“Ms Barker was employed at the venue for a period of time. When the sums taken from residents came to light Ms Barker was arrested.

“To her credit, she made admissions and she has now pleaded guilty. The offence is a range of one year to three-and-a-half years.”

Barker, now of East Street, High Spen, in Gateshead, pleaded guilty to six counts of theft from the person of another.

Alastair Naismith, defending, told magistrates the case was difficult to categorise according to their sentencing guidelines.

He said this because the guidelines for the amount stolen may not account for any additional harm the prosecution may place on the offences.

Mr Naismith said Barker’s crimes could be categorised as having a maximum two-year term.

He added: “The offences are almost a year old and there were full admissions with HR in the firm before the police got involved and there’s a lack of previous convictions.”

Magistrates adjourned the case for reports and Barker was granted unconditional bail until Tuesday, July 7.

The home is run by Sunderland Care and Support.

A Sunderland City Council spokesperson said: “Sunderland Care and Support, a local authority trading company owned by the city council, worked with Northumbria Police to bring the case to prosecution after uncovering the theft through its own internal auditing processes.

“As a result of her actions, and this serious breach of trust, Kimberley Barker is no longer an employee of Sunderland Care and Support.”