By Court Reporter

A 42-YEAR-OLD Stroud care home deputy manager who defrauded four vulnerable residents out of more than £9,000 was prepared for jail when she appeared at Gloucester Crown Court on Thursday.

Christine Green was ashamed of her offences and wanted to be sentenced immediately rather than have a pre-sentence report prepared by the probation service, her barrister said.

But the judge, Recorder Michael Vere-Hodge QC, said that despite her wishes he felt there should be a pre-sentence report and he bailed her for three weeks.

Green, formally from Uplands, pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud in breach of her trusted position as living support deputy manager with Stroud and District Homes Foundation.

She admitted that on dates between June 2014 and January 2016 she defrauded one resident of £3,116, another of £3,225, a third of £390 and a fourth of £2,398.99 by taking money from their bank accounts without consent.

Her barrister, Sarah Francis, told the court “She does not wish for the benefit of a pre-sentence report. She is of good character previously. She is asking for sentence today.

“I have tried to persuade her to have a pre-sentence report but she feels the sentence is inevitable. She is driven by shame and wants to be dealt with immediately.”

Janine Wood, prosecuting, said one factor for the court to consider was that recently another woman who had defrauded residents of the same organisation of £4,800 had been jailed for a year by another judge at the same court. It might be thought better for the same judge to deal with Green, she said.

Recorder Vere-Hodge said the courts always strive to achieve just sentences after taking into account all aspects of the case and the defendant and he felt it would be better for there to be a report on Green.

"I think her best interests are served by having a further delay in this case until November 3 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared,” he said.

To Green, the judge said: "I know you have come here today hoping to be sentenced. I recognise that.

"I have no doubt that you have steeled yourself for what you see as an inevitable sentence of immediate imprisonment. It may well be in fact that you do have to go into custody in due course.

"I am granting you bail for a pre-sentence report but without any indication of what any future judge may decide is the appropriate sentence."