An "exploitative" County Durham carer stole over £65,000 from two vulnerable victims and then claimed she'd been blackmailed after being caught.
Wendy Wilkinson was an "unofficial carer" for one of the victims, who had mental health issues, and transferred thousands of pounds of her money into her own bank account. Durham Crown Court heard that Wilkinson had already committed similar offences against one of the victims in 2007, involving "sums in excess of £23,000", but had been forgiven.
Wilkinson, 53, appeared at the court on Friday to be sentenced for theft and two counts of fraud by false representation. The offences were committed between September 2016 and July 2020.
Read more: Woman, 85, tragically dies in crash on A689 in County Durham
Recorder Thomas Moran, told the court that the two victims, a mother and her daughter, were "vulnerable for different reasons", with one of them being targeted by Wilkinson years before. The recorder, said: "Despite that, she restated the relationship, which included her giving you access to her bank details. Over a period of four years, over £65,000 was stolen, some from a joint account. Sophistication and planning was involved." The eldest victim, who has since passed away, was in a care home at the time.
The court heard that Wilkinson even set up online banking before one of the victims became aware of what was happening - Halifax later reimbursed them £25,000. However, most of that money had to go towards care home fees which had not been paid. When Wilkinson was finally arrested, she admitted she had transferred the money into her account, but gave a series of "absurd" and "elaborate" lies as to why.
Recorder Moran said Wilkinson claimed she had been blackmailed by two men and that was the only reason why she took the money. Recorder Moran said: "There's no doubt the whole account was an elaborate series of lies and deep seated dishonesty. There's not a shred of evidence to support it...the story is inherently fantastical."
Sentencing Wilkinson, of The Crescent, Barnard Castle, Recorder Moran said she was motivated by "sheer greed" and that she had an "exploitative character". Wilkinson was jailed for 36 months.
