A FERMANAGH GP who admitted defrauding an elderly patient with Alzheimer’s out of £10,000 has been warned that she faces prison for the “mean and deplorable” offence.

Dr Michelle Mellotte, who was based in Ederney before her retirement, pleaded guilty to a single charge of fraud by abuse of position at Omagh Crown Court, sitting in Belfast. She has since repaid the money.

The 61-year-old, from Bannagh Beg Road in Kesh, was charged with occupying a position in which she was expected to safeguard the financial interests of the pensioner and dishonestly abused that position to obtain £10,000 from him.

The offence was committed over a period from January 30, 2010 to April 22, 2011. When the charge was put to Dr Mellotte, she responded by saying “guilty”. 

The court heard that the victim, who was in his late 70s at the time, is now deceased. It also emerged that Dr Mellotte has since paid back the £10,000.

Crown prosecutor Sam Magee said the case against Dr Mellotte concerned an “arrangement” regarding a loan between her and the elderly patient, who at the time was suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Describing the patient as a “vulnerable individual with ailing mental and physical health”, Mr Magee said the doctor’s plea indicated that she accepted she abused her position of trust to defraud the pensioner out of £10,000.

Mr Magee added that it was the Crown’s case that the financial arrangement between the doctor and her patient was “improper”.

A defence barrister representing Dr Mellotte asked that sentencing be put back for a month to allow the preparation of pre-sentence reports and character testimonials.

He also requested that his client be released on continuing bail until sentencing. Judge Piers Grant agreed to continuing bail, but before she left the dock Dr Mellotte was warned that she could face jail for the “mean and deplorable offence”. 

Saying he accepted that the money “has eventually been repaid”, the Judge told the defendant it was “almost inevitable” that he will send her to prison.

Dr Mellotte is due to be sentenced for the offence in February.