A CARER has appeared in court charged with stealing money from mentally-ill patients.

Elaine Royal, 50, of Hillside, Burnley, faces multiple charges of theft by an employee, and two counts of fraud by abuse of position.

Royal is charged with using a debit card to pay for a logbook loan worth £670 on August 18, 2008, and for car servicing, worth £163, on August 27 2008.

She is charged with stealing almost £2,000 from the same man in cash between August 2009 and December 2010.

She faces similar charges of stealing thousands of pounds over the same period from three others.

She was bailed until October 21 to re-appear at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court.

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