A GLASGOW care worker stole cash from a vulnerable elderly resident - then blamed it on her recent break-up.

Ashley Monaghan was working as a care assistant at Antonine House in Bearsden when the incident took place.

The private care home is described as "among the country’s finest, providing nursing and dementia care at its best and surpassing national care standards".

But in December 16, 2018, Monaghan was found to have fallen well below those standards - stealing £30 from a vulnerable resident.

She has since been struck off from the care register after a hearing at the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) found her unfit to practice.

The watchdog found Monaghan has abused her position of power and trust.

A report read: "Theft from a service user is a serious abuse of trust.

"You initially concealed your wrongdoing and only admitted it when confronted with solid evidence.

"You have not displayed any insight into the potential consequences of your dishonesty".

READ MORE: Glasgow carer left resident with dementia soaked in own urine for 'prolonged' period

Despite initially denying the accusations, Monaghan later revealed all - blaming her behaviour on a break-up with a long-term partner.

In an email to the SSSC, the carer wrote: "I Ashley Monaghan confessed to have taken £30 from a resident bedroom.

"At the time I was going through a hard time [information redacted] as I split up with my partner after 6 year of been together.

"I didn’t know wot I was thinking when I took the money I know I shouldn’t have took the money I know it was wrong.

"As I said I was going through a hard time [information redacted] All I can say that I am sorry for the offcnce I had done" (sic).

The watchdog accepted that Monaghan has expressed apology and regret, adding that as far as the panel as made aware, the theft was an isolated incident of misconduct.

However, it added that she "in the past acted and/or were liable in the future to act so as to put a service user at unwarranted risk of harm".

The SSSC considered various sanctions but determined a removal from the register was the only appropriate option.

They concluded: ":You showed yourself capable of stealing from a vulnerable service user, potentially exposing her to emotional harm as well as financial harm.

"A finding of impairment is necessary to protect service users from such harm in future."

It added that Monaghan was found to have behaved in a "deliberate and dishonest manner.

"There had been a significant abuse of trust."

The watchdog accepted there may be financial consequences for Monaghan as a result of the removal order, but believed the wider public interest outweighed that factor.