Conwoman who preyed on cancer patient given suspended jail sentence

Fraudster Anita Patterson targeted her 79-year-old victim persuading her to buy groceries and withdraw cash for her, the court heard.

The 33-year-old crook was rumbled with the help of Waitrose staff in Wolverhampton who told family members about a mystery woman accompanying the victim shopping.

The woman’s daughter’s suspicions had already been aroused after she had noticed receipts on the kitchen table that were for food her mother had not had and for a petrol station she didn’t use.

The victim, who lives in Wolverhampton, had recently had chemotherapy treatment, revealed Mrs Sati Ruck, prosecuting who said it was not clear how the conwoman had come to meet the victim.

Her family regularly shopped at Wolverhampton’s Waitrose store and on August 12 a cashier, who recognised the daughter, told her of a mystery woman who had started to accompany the mother.

Police were alerted and two days later an officer was at the victim’s address when the fraudster called and she was arrested.

The victim’s diary, along with CCTV from Waitrose, helped prove Patterson tricked the woman into using the bank card 28 times in a month worth £1,234.

Mrs Ruck concluded: “She lied and took advantage of the elderly woman’s vulnerability.”

The defendant from Oakland Road, Pennfields, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and was given a 24-week jail sentence suspended for a year.

Judge Jinder Singh Boora ruled: “There is a good prospect of rehabilitation. Your offending is aligned to drug taking and you need help.”