THE OWNER of a care home in Tottington stole thousands of pounds from the bank accounts of “vulnerable” residents, a court heard.

Mary Galvin, aged 66, who ran the 16-bed Lyndon Residential Care Home, in Bury Road, was charged with two counts of theft after she took £3,500 from the account of one woman, and £3,000 from a 94-year-old woman.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Galvin took £3,500 from the woman’s bank account from November 2011 to October 2012, without informing her.

In addition, the court was told that Galvin “unilaterally” decided to take cheques of £1,000, £1,500, and £500 from the account of the other woman, from February to November 2012.

She claimed she had taken the cheque worth £500 from the 94-year-old woman because of what she deemed as “excessive” use of an electric heater, and another £1,000 because she was a single resident, but often slept in a double room. Galvin also took £1,000 because she had been told she was undercharging residents.

Hugh Edwards, prosecuting, said that Galvin had access to the residents’ bank acc-ounts in order to take their fees, but that these dealings were “over and above what she was allowed to withdraw”.

Galvin and her husband bought the care home in 1997, after she had spent 30 years working as a nurse.

Defending, Mr Philip Parry said problems began in 2011, when nine deaths were registered at the home, meaning a loss of income and financial difficulties. The home was eventually sold last January, after a police investigation into the thefts.

The court heard that Galvin was suffering mental health problems, following her son taking his own life in August 2012, and her daughter battling alcoholism.

Galvin, of Cuckoo Lane, Whitefield, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, and sentencing was deferred until September 26.