No evidence this is job-related, but interesting to contrast this with the stuff about the dementia-awareness training a few days ago.
So this is the other side of the dementia coin, and demonstrates how unscrupulous drivers could exploit dementia-suffering passengers rather than helping them. And to that extent, it's no doubt bye-bye badge for this individual
'Trusting wee gent' with dementia robbed blind by heartless taxi driver pretending to be his friendhttps://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glas ... d-21058168Stephen Wright befriended the vulnerable old man then spent weeks stealing thousands from his bank account.
Image: Paisley Daily Express/Glasgow LiveAn elderly man with dementia was ripped off by his neighbour, who befriended him then stole £7,000.
Taxi driver Stephen Wright even marched the vulnerable old man to the bank and stood behind him as a he withdrew money then immediately took it from him.
The 52-year-old lived in the same block of flats at Samuel McLellan when he pinched his bank card then make daily limit withdrawals from ATMs, the Paisley Daily Express reports.
The scheming cabbie's theft came to light when the vulnerable 77-year-old's daughter Kirsty Bowyer received a call from the bank fearing he'd been a victim of fraud.
A trial at Paisley Sheriff Court heard that Wright made 25 ATM withdrawals in the weeks between December 2018 and January 2019.
Ms Bowyer explained: "The bank was concerned about the number of large withdrawals which had been made from dad's account.
"I was surprised when the bank explained the amounts involved."
She added: "He was living alone at his flat in Paisley at that time.
"But after that happened I took him in to stay with me as I couldn't have that happen again."
Police constable Mandy Gillespie, 46, told the court she watched CCTV footage of Wright in the bank at Moncrief Street with Mr McLellan on January 7 and January 8.
She recognised Wright when she saw him walking out of the same close where the victim lived.
She told how she found the victim "confused," when cops visited his flat to ask him about the withdrawals.
She said: "He thought he had done something wrong. It was sad. He was such a trusting wee gentleman.
"He appeared confused."
She added she returned to the flat the following day to perform a welfare check and Mr McLellan "couldn't remember" she and her colleague had been there.
Wright who gave evidence himself denied he had stolen the cash when quizzed by procurator fiscal depute Susan Barr, claiming he had "only been helping his elderly neighbour."
However Sheriff Tom McCartney found him guilty of all counts of theft after listening to the evidence.
He told him: "I am satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt and find you guilty of these charges."
He was found guilty of stealing £6,750 from his victim by visiting ATMS at Moncrieff Street, Glasgow Road and East Lane between December 20, 2018 and January 8, 2019.
Defence agent Anthony Boland asked that his client be freed on bail until after the court had obtained background reports.
He will discover his fate on August 11.
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