A STUDENT nurse who stole bank cards from seriously ill and vulnerable patients at Bradford Royal Infirmary did not turn up for her Proceeds of Crime Investigation hearing.

Ruth Daniel, 28, of Third Street, Low Moor, Bradford, is pictured leaving Bradford Crown Court in February after she was given a suspended jail sentence for the “grotesque breach of trust.”

Her case was listed before Judge Jonathan Rose today for a POCA directions hearing but her barrister, Emma Downing, said she had not attended court.

Miss Downing said letters had been sent to Daniel’s address but there had been no contact with her.

“We must presume she has absented herself,” Miss Downing said.

Daniel was not under any legal obligation to attend the hearing.

Judge Rose adjourned the case until June 24.

Daniel was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 240 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days.

She stole more than £1,100 from three patients and one fellow member of staff.

She pleaded guilty to four offences of fraud and two of theft and admitted ten additional offences - seven of fraud and three of theft, totalling £3,970 - taking the total amount stolen to more than £5,000.