Social workers’ trial for theft collapses

Two social workers alleged to have defrauded Hampshire Council have
been cleared of all charges after their trial collapsed.

Jim Swaby, the manager of a 15-bed unit for people with learning
difficulties in Winchester, and his wife, Kim, who was employed as
a part-time night worker, walked free from Winchester Crown Court
after the judge instructed the jury to acquit them because of the
weak and contradictory nature of the prosecution evidence.

He was accused of stealing £2,240 and of 10 counts of false
accounting to the value of £82,000. She was charged with
obtaining by deception by lying about overtime.

They denied all charges.

A council spokesperson said Hampshire was disappointed with the
outcome and would investigate with the police what went wrong
before deciding whether to pursue a civil action.