Fraudster stole £16k from bank account of pensioner
An elderly woman paid a high price after inadvertently giving control of her finances to a self-confessed spendthrift and former bankrupt, a judge heard.
Edith Guest, a 92-year-old with no immediate family, had over £16,000 systematically syphoned from her bank account by Emma Law, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Her mother lived two doors away from the victim but died ten days after being officially put in charge of the financial affairs of the victim who had moved to a care home, explained Miss Laura Hobson, prosecuting.
Ms Guest chose 39-year-old Law as the person she wanted to take over the responsibility without realising she had major money worries and the switch was agreed at a meeting with social service officials. The defendant was given access to the bank accounts of the victim who never checked their content, the court heard.
Law, who had no previous convictions, was given access to the bank accounts of the victim and was supposed to use the money to pay for the care and upkeep of Ms Guest, who has since died.
A year later it was discovered that a considerable amount was still owed on the fees, said Miss Hobson who continued: “There was difficulty in contacting the defendant but, when spoken to by a social worker, admitted using the money for her own purpose.
Unsuitable
“She said she was having trouble looking after her own financial affairs and realised she should not have taken on the role of controlling those of the victim.
"Unauthorised withdrawals had been made from cash points, some of which were for hundreds of pounds.”
Police were alerted and Law, who has mental issues, confessed to being a compulsive spender and former bankrupt whose mother had looked after her finances until her death, concluded the prosecutor.
Miss Claire Evans, defending, maintained: “She was clearly an entirely unsuitable choice but the bank statements were sent to the victim and the defendant had no idea how much money was in the account.
“She agreed to control the finances at the meeting with social services because they said it would be easier for them if she did.
"She is a passive person who would never be able to say no.”
Law, from Showell Road, Low Hill, admitted fraud and theft involving £16,300 between June 2015 an August 2017, and received a 12-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months. She had been declared bankrupt with £15,000 debts several years ago.
Recorder Thomas Rochford told her: “It was foolish of you to take on the role but you have a range of mental health problems.
"Your finances are, and always have been, in a mess and so I am impressed that you have paid some money back.
"It shows you wish to make amends and allows me to suspend the inevitable period of custody.”
