Cleaner who stole from 92 year old snared by hidden camera

Alison Lavell, of Alexandra Street, Warrington was jailed for nine months for stealing £40 from a pensioner
-Credit: (Image: Cheshire Constabulary)


A cleaner stole cash from a 92 year old woman and only confessed when CCTV footage was shown in court. Alison Lavell, from Warrington, had initially denied pocketing money belonging to the vulnerable pensioner.

However, during her trial, the 59 year old changed her plea to guilty after video evidence was presented to the court. The court heard that on January 12, the victim's son had reported to police his suspicion that Lavell was stealing money from his mother.

He estimated that £500 had vanished by the time the family realised what was happening. The stolen money was intended for her carers.

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The family installed a hidden camera in the victim's home which caught Lavell, who was employed as her personal cleaner, allegedly taking £20 from her purse on January 2. A second video, filmed a week later, showed Lavell once again dipping into the purse and taking another £20.

Lavell was arrested on suspicion of theft but denied any knowledge of the 92 year old's money disappearing. She maintained that she had retrieved a prescription for the woman from her purse, not cash, reports the Manchester Evening News.

However, Lavell, of Alexandra Street, Warrington, was charged with two counts of theft and went to trial. After initially pleading not guilty, she changed her plea once the CCTV footage was played in court.

Lavell was handed a nine-month prison sentence at Liverpool Crown Court last Tuesday (September 10), receiving concurrent sentences for each count.

Police Constable Stephen Wolstenholme, from Cheshire Police's Warrington Area Investigation Team, remarked after the sentencing: "Alison Lavell abused her position of trust and stole the money of a vulnerable person who considered her a friend; I hope that her sentencing today provides the victim with a sense of closure from this distressing incident."

He also emphasised the force's commitment to justice adding: "Regardless of how small they may seem, we will always take matters such as this with the utmost seriousness and our officers will relentlessly do everything they can to get you the justice you deserve."