Hackney NHS worker made £2,020 shopping spree using cancer patients’ credit cards

A former East London NHS hospital nurse has been jailed after spending £1,660 using cancer patients’ credit cards. Mira Solmaz, 33, of High Street, Hackney, was described as “pure evil” by one of her victims and was jailed for 15 months.

On December 31, 2020, Todd Mallonee, a cancer patient at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, noticed his credit card and other items were missing. On January 5, 2021, his wife contacted the police. Around £360 worth of transactions on these cards were linked to Solmaz. Mr Mallonee died on April 28, 2021, aged 48, before he could see justice.

Then, in early April 2021, 65-year-old Hazel Longhurst, a cancer patient at St Batholomew’s Hospital, became aware of activity on her cards, despite being in hospital at the time. The patient’s daughter made a police report on 7 April 2021. Fraudulent purchases of approximately £1,660 were made with these cards.

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Solmaz had direct access to the living rooms of the victims. A police investigation found the cards were linked to Solmaz through email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses. Investigators also obtained screenshots of Solmaz’s transactions and photos of credit cards on her phone belonging to a nurse at the Royal London Hospital.

She pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and three counts of possession of articles for use in fraud. Solmaz was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Southwark Crown Court.

“She targeted me while I was fighting for my life”

Hazel said: “He targeted me as I was fighting for my life. For a person who is supposed to be in a position of care and trust, to do this is just pure evil. I have worked for the NHS as a nurse all my life, I don’t think anyone could do what she did and this one person’s actions have made me uneasy and more wary of people now.

“I really want to thank the London Police, in particular Stacie Cottrell, for all the hard work she put into this investigation.”

Detective Constable Stacie Cottrell, City of London Police, said: “Mira Solmaz breached the trust of two vulnerable patients placed in her care, where the families of the victims expected their loved ones to be cared for. I would like to extend my condolences to Todd’s family and friends. I am saddened that he could not see Solmaz brought to justice.

“I am very grateful to the families of these victims for reporting this to the police and supporting this investigation.”

A spokesman for Barts Health NHS Trust said: “As soon as we became aware of the allegations against Ms Solmaz, she was suspended and an internal investigation was launched. This was completed in December 2022, following a police investigation, and Ms Solmaz was subsequently dismissed.”

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