A SHERIFF has warned a greedy conman to pay back what he stole from severely disabled adults he looked after.

Kevin Cassidy, 48, abused his role as a Renfrewshire charity boss by embezzling more than £30,000 from the bank accounts of vulnerable residents while working at the care homes where they lived.

He was accused of pocketing £46,971 from The McFarlane Trust while working at the organisation’s residential care houses in Main Road, Elderslie, and Glencally Avenue, Paisley.

However, during a pre-trial hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court last month, it was revealed Cassidy had struck a deal with prosecutors that saw him admit to embezzling £34,734.

At the time, procurator fiscal depute David McDonald said: “Both of these locations are ran by The McFarlane Trust for adults with severe learning difficulties, who are entirely dependent on the care provided.

“These facilities provide 24-hour care in a residential setting and each resident has their own bedroom.

“Kevin Cassidy was employed by The McFarlane Trust in several capacities from 2001. Around late 2009/early 2010, he was promoted to the position of manager. One aspect of this role was to assume financial guardianship for the residents within these facilities.

“This included paying any bills and paying for furniture within rooms and clothes.

“One bill that each resident pays is to the local council and is classed as Housing Support charges, which covers the cost of the care provided by The McFarlane Trust for each resident and is billed on a monthly basis.

“Each resident would have a bank account to ensure that all benefits they are entitled to are deposited and all bills can be paid from.

“The accused, within his role as manager for these facilities, would also have access to the bank cards and PIN numbers for these cards, in order to withdraw money.”

Cassidy, of Paisley, used one of the bank cards to lift £200 whilst in Wales in July 2017, leading to an internal investigation.

He was asked to attend a disciplinary meeting and was told he would be suspended. Following this, Cassidy offered his resignation, which was accepted, and handed himself in to police later that day.

When he returned to court last week, Sheriff James Spy told him he was guilty of a “serious breach of trust.”

Sheriff Spy had previously been made aware that Cassidy was to pay the money back and wanted something put in place that would allow the Trust to have legal protection if he fails to do so.

The court was told a contractual agreement will be sent to the Trust, with Cassidy to make monthly payments of £500.

He will be sentenced later this month.

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond