Dementia sufferer evicted from care home after ‘evil’ granddaughter stole £45,000 and left her with nothing
10.08.2022 - 11:47
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A mum-of-two, who stole more than £45,000 from her dementia-suffering grandma, has avoided jail.
Carrie Chadwick plundered Kathleen Lancaster's funds over a two-and-a-half year period and blew it on gambling websites, takeaways and shopping. The 41-year-old's 'despicable' deceit was eventually uncovered when her elderly grandmother was kicked out of her Wigan care home, because her top-up fees had not been paid.
Chadwick was given 'unfettered' access to Mrs Lancaster's bank accounts, shortly after she was diagnosed with dementia in May 2016, prosecution barrister Philip Hall told Bolton Crown Court. At that time, Mrs Lancaster lived in a council house and Chadwick was trusted by her family to pay bills and keep the kitchen stocked with food.
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Mrs Lancaster had more than £950 going into her bank every single month but on a number of occasions, her Virgin phone line and television were cut off after non-payment of bills. In early 2018, Mrs Lancaster had to move to Montrose Hall Care Home, after a fall, and Chadwick was in charge of paying £60 per week in top-up fees, using money from Mrs Lancaster's accounts.
Mr Hall said: "Kathleen’s care home fees account fell into the arrears because the defendant failed to pay the fees on her behalf. The care home made attempts to resolve the issues but to no avail.
“The defendant attended a meeting with a care home manager where she explained she was having personal problems and she could not afford to pay the arrears. She offered to pay an extra £10 a month to clear the debt, she paid one further sum and then defaulted on the agreement.
“The Crown say the defendant could