A Wokingham carer stole a cheque from a 79-year-old dementia patient and used it to pay for services from a sex worker.

Martin Weller, of Hampshire Close, worked as a carer between October 2019 and February 2021 and during this time he stole and cashed blank cheques from three vulnerable adults.

The 49-year-old was today locked up after a judge slammed him for his ‘gross abuse of trust’ against ‘possibly the most vulnerable in society.’

READ MORE: Map reveals lungworm hotspots in Berkshire

His offending began in October 2019 when he stole a blank cheque from a woman in her fifties who suffered from mental and physical disabilities.

After returning from hospital she noticed her belongings had been searched.

A blank cheque belonging to the woman was found at the address of Weller, who visited patients at their homes to clean and care for them.

In July 2020, Weller cashed three blank cheques from a man suffering from myotonic dystrophy, a debilitating muscle condition.

He was able to make a gain of £500 from these cheques and tried to cash another £250.

Weller was able to obtain these cheques after visiting the patient’s house with his partner, who was caring for the man.

Then in February 2021, Weller stole a blank cheque from a 79-year-old dementia sufferer.

READ MORE: Berkshire hit by huge rail disruption

He used it to pay for services from a sex worker but the cheque did not go through.

Weller tried to explain this by telling the sex worker he had split up with his wife and his bank account had been frozen.

However, when Weller paid the sex worker again, he did so in his own name.

This raised the sex worker’s suspicions and she contacted the dementia patient’s son -- who was his power of attorney -- to say she thought he was the victim of a fraud.

Police were called and found a number of cheques belonging to the dementia patient at Weller’s home.

READ MORE: Speeding dad spared driving ban due to son's rare medical condition

Richard Moss, defending, said Weller was £8,500 in debt and used these cheques to pay off bills.

He said Weller “wasn’t in his right mind” when he paid for the services of a sex worker using the stolen cheques.

His Honour Judge Hassan Khan, sentencing, said: “This was a gross abuse of trust which took place over a year against possibly the most vulnerable in society.”

Weller was handed a 15-month prison sentence for four counts of fraud and one count of theft.

He was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, June 21.