Judges overturn Jewish care home manager’s theft conviction

An Essex woman who was jailed after she was found guilty of stealing from her employer at a Jewish care home in Golders Green had her convictions quashed today.

Pamela Darroux, 60, of Richmond Road, Grays, was accused of submitting “inflated” overtime and holiday pay claims at Sunridge Court, where she was a manager.

Prosecutors said she had pocketed thousands of pounds via her claims between January 2011 and February 2014.

Mrs Darroux was convicted of six counts of theft at Wood Green Crown Court in June 2016 and sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment.

But today, after an appeal by her lawyers, three senior judges at the Court of Appeal overturned her convictions.

Allowing her appeal, Lord Justice Davis said Mrs Darroux should not have been charged with theft.

“We conclude that the charges were not properly framed in theft,” said the judge.

“This was, on the facts, a clear potential case of fraud by false representation. But that was not charged.”

He continued: “In the result, the appeal must succeed.

“We reach such a conclusion with no enthusiasm. The jury had found the appellant to be dishonest.”

Prosecutors asked the judge, sitting with Mr Justice King and Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, to substitute convictions for fraud.

But the judge said that would not be appropriate and instead quashed the theft convictions.

The court heard Mrs Darroux’s defence at her trial was that none of her claims were dishonestly made.