Woman stole over £13k of mother's savings leaving her with just £130

Sharon Constable was ,meant to be acting as carer for her elderly mother Agnes but virtually wiped out her savings leaving just £130 in the accounts, a court heard.

The 53-year-old, from Cross Street, Cannock, took the money over a period of three years, 'depleting' the savings accounts 'to the point of exhaustion.

Constable was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work in the community by a judge at Stafford Crown Court.

She had pleaded guilty to three counts of theft between August 2011 and February 2014, earlier this year at Cannock Magistrates Court.

Prosecuting, Mr Roger Brown said: "In 2010, the defendant became her mothers carer. At this point she was still relatively mobile, however it became increasingly difficult for her to leave the house.

"At one point, she had attempted to withdraw £1000 from her Nationwide bank account, however she was told that it wasn't possible and she could only withdraw £500.

"She was told to come back the next day and after discussing her difficulties in doing so with a member of staff, she was advised to register her daughter as a co signatory for the account, so she could withdraw money for her.

"This was then done for both of her accounts, leading to the defendants repeated withdrawals over the next few years, totalling around £13,500."

The court heard that Constable, who has one previous conviction for benefit fraud, also had debts in the region of £20,000 by the time she was caught.

Defence solicitor Liz Power said: "I have to concede that this is a severe and significant breach of trust.

"My client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and has accepted everything that has been said against her."

Judge Michael Chambers QC

said: "This was a series of extremely mean offences committed on your mother while she was dependent on you as her carer.

"The impact must have been enormous and I am sure it continues to be.

"I doubt that you will be welcome at her home any more.

"The offences are serious enough to cross the custody threshold but you had the good sense to plead guilty when you did."