A health care assistant who used cancer patient’s credit cards while they fought for their lives has been described as “pure evil” by a victim. 

Hazel Longhurst was a cancer inpatient at St Bartholomew's Hospital when health care assistant Mira Solmaz made £1,660 worth of fraudulent purchases on her card in April 2021. 

Ms Longhurst said: “She targeted me while 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’ve worked for the NHS as a nurse my whole life, I’m just in disbelief that someone can do what she did and the actions of this one person has made me uneasy and more wary of people now.” 

News Shopper: Hazel in hospital with daughter MelanieHazel in hospital with daughter Melanie (Image: City of London Police)Solmaz, 33, of Mare Street in Hackney, also stole from another cancer inpatient at the same hospital – Todd Mallonee. 

On New Year’s Eve 2020 Mr Mallonee noticed his credit card and other items missing and £360 worth of transcations on his card were linked to Solmaz. 

Mr Mallonee passed away in April 2021, aged 48. 

Solmaz later pleading guilty to five counts of fraud, four counts of possession of articles for use in fraud and one count of money laundering. 

City of London Police officers found that the cards were linked to Solmaz though email addresses, telephone numbers and home addresses. 

Investigators also obtained Solmaz’s screenshots of her transactions. 

News Shopper: Mira Solmaz custody pictureMira Solmaz custody picture (Image: City of London Police)At Southwark Crown Court on Friday (May 31) Solmaz was jailed for 15 months. 

Detective Constable Stacie Cottrell, City of London Police, said: “Mira Solmaz violated the trust and confidence of two vulnerable patients placed in her care, where the families of the victims expected their loved ones to be looked after. 

“I would like to extend my condolences to Todd’s family and friends. I’m saddened that he wasn’t able to see Solmaz brought to justice. 

“I’m very grateful to the families of these victims in reporting this to the police and supporting this investigation.” 

Solmaz also pleaded guilty to possession of articles for use in fraud, after officers found photos of credit cards on her phone belonging to a nurse at Royal London Hospital. 

A Barts Health NHS Trust spokesperson said: “As soon as we became aware of the allegations against Ms Solmaz, she was suspended and an internal investigation launched. 

“This was completed in December 2022, following the police investigation, and Ms Solmaz was subsequently dismissed.”