A nurse who callously stole thousands of pounds from a vulnerable dementia patient in his care has been sent to prison. Rexy Reyes, 52, was found guilty of two counts of theft following a three-day trial at Nottingham Crown Court.
A Systematic Betrayal of Trust
The court heard how Reyes, who worked on ward B47 at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre, helped himself to £6,500 from his victim's bank account. The thefts occurred in early 2020, shortly after the woman, who was in her 70s, was admitted to the hospital on January 24 as her condition worsened.
Prosecutor Devni Kitulagoda explained that the patient's belongings were secured in a locker to which only staff had access. Reyes took her bank card from her purse. Exploiting a critical security failure, he then used the card on 22 consecutive days at a cash machine within the hospital that was not covered by surveillance cameras. The court was told a piece of paper with the PIN was kept in the same wallet.
Judge Condemns "Mean" Offence Motivated by Greed
Jailing Reyes for 18 months, Judge James Sampson did not mince his words. He described the crime as a "mean offence which was motivated by greed" that took place over several weeks.
"You deliberately targeted your victim based on her vulnerability - that being an elderly dementia patient," the judge said. He emphasised that the actions constituted a severe breach of trust that the public is entitled to place in nurses, whose duty is to care for the most fragile members of society.
The judge also noted that Reyes showed no remorse for his actions, which have damaged public confidence in the nursing profession.
Lasting Impact on the Victim's Family
The profound impact of the crime was laid bare in a victim impact statement from the woman's nephew. He revealed that the incident has caused him to "lost confidence" in the health system.
Tragically, the court was informed that the elderly patient has since passed away, though not as a direct result of the theft. The case highlights the devastating consequences when those in positions of care exploit the very people they are sworn to protect.
