A carer who groomed an elderly woman, called her 'Nana', and stole more than £20,000 from her has been jailed for two years. Nicholas Henderson, 42, pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and began his prison sentence on October 27.
Carer's Betrayal of Trust
Between 2023 and 2024, Henderson was employed to care for the 86-year-old woman at her home in Lathom, Lancashire. The woman lived alone at the Grade II listed farmhouse but relied on help to maintain her independence.
In January 2025, family friends contacted his employer with concerns about his 'unprofessional conduct'. They reported that he had been visiting during his own time, taking his daughter along, and on one occasion had been seen sleeping on the driveway.
Henderson, of Churchfield, Shevington, was given a written warning after a meeting. However, the woman's friends then checked her bank statements and discovered 'worrying' transactions, prosecutor Ellie McManus said.
The Fraud Uncovered
In April 2023, a cheque for £20,000 had been written to Henderson, but the matching stub in the cheque book was made out for £20. Two further cheques totalling £295 had also been paid to him.
When asked about the payments, the woman seemed 'embarrassed and confused' and said she would never give a cheque for such a large sum, Ms McManus told the court.
On February 2, 2025, the care company manager held a staff meeting to remind employees of professional procedures. Henderson was asked to stay behind and questioned about any payments he had received.
He admitted taking money for a radio he had purchased, and claimed he had been 'gifted' an amount. When asked how much, he replied: "Do you really want to know?" He then leaned towards her, lowered his voice, and said '£20,000.'
Dismissal and Sentencing
Henderson's employer, shocked, asked him to leave the building. At a disciplinary meeting on February 8, he insisted the money was a gift 'for being there for her and looking after her.' He was dismissed on the spot but later messaged his boss: "I'm sorry to ask... may I ask what it will say on the DBS? I'm sorry I let you down, destroying the one thing I love x"
After firing Henderson, the care manager visited the pensioner and asked whether she would ever give someone that kind of money. She described the victim as 'a very proud and trusting person'. When shown Henderson's messages, she was shocked to read that he regularly told the woman he loved her, with messages such as "I hope you're keeping warm Nana", 'Love you more', and "Happy New Year Nana".
Throughout the hearing, Henderson sat shamefaced in the dock, putting his head in his hands as Ms McManus described how the woman's loneliness was exploited. The woman died in September 2025, the court heard.
Beverley Hackett, defending, said Henderson was 'genuinely remorseful for his actions and criminality', 'frittered the money away', and recognised 'he only has himself to blame.' He confessed he had been 'greedy' as he had never seen that kind of money before.
Sentencing, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, Judge Robert Altham, said: "This was a particularly cynical fraud... She was elderly and vulnerable. You were a professional carer, supposed to act in her interests but instead you stole from her... You frittered it away on a holiday to New York, trees for the garden and clothes... You abused your position of trust and responsibility as her carer."
The judge considered suspending the two-year sentence but concluded the offence was so serious that only an immediate term of imprisonment would meet the justice of the case.
