A cruel carer has been jailed after fleecing her own cousin out of £47,000 of her life savings and leaving her with just 21p.
Karen Devonport asked to "borrow" cash from her relative, who she described as being like a sister, on 45 occasions over a 20-month period by pretending she needed it to pay for her daughter's wedding, solicitors' bills, a baby shower, insurance, car repairs and a deposit for a trip to New York. A court heard that the 58-year-old told the victim she was soon expecting a £65,000 divorce settlement, which she would use to pay her back. In fact, she had already received the money and spent it.
Newcastle Crown Court was told that Devonport actually frittered her cousin's cash, which she and her husband had been saving since 1984, on a lifestyle of paying for meals out and events with friends and presents. And, when the devastated victim finally realised what had happened and reported the matter to the police, she was left with just 21p in her building society account.
