A sneaky woman who stole more than £48,000 and a diamond ring from her partner's dad while he was seriously ill in hospital has been ordered to pay back just £1.
Gemma Jeremiah helped herself to the retired businessman's cash and blew it on gambling and drugs. A court heard Jeremiah had been in a relationship with the victim's son for around 15 years and his dad suffered a "massive stroke" and was in hospital.
Jeremiah's partner was concerned about a significant amount of money he knew his dad, a retired businessman, kept at home. He decided to taken the money and put it at the address he shared with the Jeremiah, then moved it to her grandparents' home, which was occupied and so there was less risk of it being stolen, he thought.
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However Jeremiah took it and ChronicleLive reported last year how she had been given a suspended prison sentence. Now her case has been back before Newcastle Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The court heard she benefited from her crime to the tune of £55,090 but as she currently has no assets she must pay back just a nominal £1, although if she comes into any money or assets in the future, they will be seized.
During the sentencing hearing last year, Emma Dowling, prosecuting, said: "(The victim) came out of hospital and wanted to know where the money was. The son contacted his partner to say his father wanted his money back and they needed to go to retrieve it from her grandparents' home.
"She said the boxes were now in their garage. He went to look at the boxes with the defendant and she confessed there was no money left and she had stolen it all.
"He said he was stunned and didn't know how she had spent that amount of money in ten weeks. In fact, she had a significant gambling problem and she had effectively gambled all that money away."
When she was arrested, Jeremiah was wearing a diamond ring belonging to the victim's mother, which she had also stolen, which she didn't initially disclose. That was returned to him. Jeremiah's partner said their relationship is now over, adding: "This has ruined my life."
Jeremiah, 39, of Charles Court, Heaton, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to stealing £48,400 and the ring. Judge Penny Moreland sentenced Jeremiah to two years suspended for two years with rehabilitation and a six month curfew. The judge said: "During that ten week period when you had access to the boxes you stole all of the money.
"It was spent on drugs, drug debts then on gambling in a vain hope of earning the money back to repay him. You would not have stolen from him had he not been unwell in hospital and unable to take care of his own property."
The judge said the fact Jeremiah is of previous good character, has taken positive steps to address the addictions which led to the offending and is remorseful, meant she could avoid sending her straight to prison.
Penny Hall, defending, said: "Temptation became too much while she was under the influence of cocaine. She spent the money on drugs, drug debts and gambling.
"Since the offence her life has changed completely. Having not quite believed what she had done and the mess she was in, she has progressed her life in a good away. The cocaine has stopped completely and she has sought help for alcohol.
"She is remorseful and embarrassed. She has empathy and insight into her actions and the effect they have had."
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