An Edmonton nurse was placed under house arrest Tuesday after admitting in court to stealing $43,000 from her mentally ill brother’s bank accounts.



Lorelle Gilbert, 64, was handed a 12-month conditional sentence to be served in the community after pleading guilty in provincial court to nine counts of fraud under $5,000.



Judge Joyce Lester told Gilbert the “only thing saving her from going to jail” was that she is repaying the money she took.



“I’m even more disturbed by the fact you are a nurse,” said Lester. “You are in a caring profession and this is how you care for your brother when he is in need of assistance.”



Crown prosecutor Brian Caruk told court Gilbert had power of attorney over the affairs of her brother, Stanford Hauptman, who suffers from schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder.



In 2010, Gilbert took approximately $17,000 from her brother’s bank account to pay for upgrading her nursing qualifications. Court heard she was going to pay it back, but never did.



Caruk said Gilbert also later took money from her brother’s accounts to pay for such things as her credit card bill.



Court heard she also withdrew money from the accounts in 2013 after another brother had earlier taken over the power of attorney.



Defence lawyer Patrick Edgerton told court Gilbert is a licensed practical nurse, as well as a nursing instructor, but said the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta was aware of the charges and she might not be able to work as a nurse anymore.



Edgerton also told court Gilbert has not provided a reason for why she took money from her brother, but said she has taken out a second mortgage on her home to repay the funds.



During the first six months of the conditional sentence, Gilbert was ordered to be under house arrest and she must abide by a nightly curfew for the balance. She was also ordered to not have any contact with her brother and to pay a $900 victim fine surcharge.



Gilbert did not address the court when given an opportunity; however, she said through her lawyer that she was thankful to her family for continuing to support her.