It proved to be a mistake when the carer stole $500 from her client’s account.

Donna Lawrence, 42, of Tumbarumba, appeared in Wodonga Magistrates’ Court last week to plead guilty to theft.

In April 2015 she was employed by Kirinari Support Services, a not-for-profit organisation providing support to the most vulnerable.

Lawrence’s client had an acquired brain injury and her account was managed by state trustees.

Kirinari staff prepared a withdrawal slip ahead of the woman’s trip into Wodonga on April 10, 2015, based on $450 needed for bills, shopping and a haircut.

Lawrence had different ideas.

She took the 64-year-old to Hume Bank to withdraw the approved cash, but went back an hour later after telling her client to withdraw another $203 from the counter using her bank book.

While that was happening, Lawrence took the woman’s key card and withdrew another $300 from the ATM.

“Lawrence placed this $300 and $200 from the earlier withdrawal into her handbag along with (the victim’s) key card,” the police prosecutor said.

Her plan came unstuck when bank staff, who knew the Wodonga woman as a customer over many years, noticed something different about her transactions.

“Staff observed the conduct of Lawrence,” the prosecutor said.

“(The victim) stated to bank staff that her key card was locked up back at the unit.

“Staff were alarmed by what they were seeing and contacted senior management at Kirinari.”

A total of $953 was withdrawn, but when Lawrence returned to work, she entered $453 into the system and left with the rest of the cash.

She was forced to hand back the $500 when called in by management that afternoon and the money was returned to the victim’s account the next day.

The disability worker told Wodonga police her client gave permission to withdraw an extra $300 to cover bills, but would not be able to recall because of her disability.

“Lawrence met with management who discussed the issue and were not satisfied with the story provided to them,” the prosecutor said.

She was placed on a 12-month community corrections order with the condition to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.