A WOMAN claimed she stole money from a stroke victim she looked after because she was trying to expose the ''bad attitude'' of two fellow carers.

Caroline Godfrey was one of five carers employed to look after Dorothy Seymour at her Droitwich home, but said she took the drastic action because she was concerned about the attitude of two of the others, magistrates were told.

Mrs Seymour's husband noticed money he left in his wife's purse began to go missing, and set a trap earlier this month to catch the thief by noting down the serial numbers of the bank notes and giving them to the police.

Droitwich Magistrates Court heard Mrs Seymour was incapable of independent movement and her husband paid all the bills and provided money for the shopping.

"Mr Seymour gave his wife £25 a week for the carers to buy incidentals for her and they all knew receipts were required," said Liz Tweed, prosecuting.

"He started to notice the amount in the purse was disappearing without being accounted for and he suspected the defendant.

"On April 17 he put £25 in the purse and noted down the serial numbers. One £10 note was spent and a receipt produced. Three £5 notes were left and were still there on April 20 when the defendant began her shift at 10pm."

She added when 28-year-old Godfrey left the following morning, Mr Seymour checked his wife's purse and noticed the money was missing and reported the matter to the police.

Godfrey, of The Grove, Stourport-on-Severn, admitted theft.

Representing herself, she told the court two of Mrs Seymour's carers had such a ''bad attitude'' it was having a negative effect on the woman.

"I've worked for Mrs Seymour for two-and-a-half years and she enjoyed her life and wanted to live," she said.

"Now all she wants to do is die and is very badly depressed. She wants to get rid of these two carers.''

Godfrey's case was adjourned until Friday, May 18, for a pre-sentence report.