'Mean and despicable' Grimsby woman defrauded widow out of £25,000
A woman in her 80s, suffering from osteoporosis, was defrauded out of more than £25,000 by a so-called friend, a court heard.
She sold paintings and Second World War medals belonging to the widowed pensioner and took money from her bank account over a two-year period.
Humberside Police detectives praised the staff of Willow Homecare for raising concerns about the pensioner and the two-faced fraudster who took the money. They became alarmed when a cheque for hundreds of pounds did not clear from her bank account when she paid tree surgeons by cheque for work they carried out.
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Denise Portus, 60, of Sutcliffe Avenue, Grimsby, admitted fraud in abuse of position between May 2018 and June 2020, when she appeared at Grimsby Crown Court. Prosecuting, Eleanor Mitten told the court the woman's husband died in 2018. Portus offered to help her with shopping and took a more active role in her finances throughout 2018.
The following year she suggested she should have power of attorney and arrange payment for bills, including her regular payment for bird feed and food for foxes which visited her garden. Willow Homecare staff became concerned when a cheque for tree work at her property did not clear. Miss Mitten said: "As far as she was concerned there was sufficient money in her account. Portus then asked her to sign all the blank cheques in her account."
The prosecutor told how carers were concerned when Portus oversaw the clear out of the woman's garage. The staff said Portus told then: "By the way girls, if you want anything from the house take it. I'm only going to have to get rid of it when she passes." The so-called friend was taking £1,000 per month from her account.
The prosecutor said Portus persuaded the woman to let her sell 44 paintings. There was also a set of Second World War medals sold at auction. The woman did not give permission for her to sell them, but they were sold in July 2019 for £1,000.
When Humberside Police were alerted, a member of the economic team, Susan Shepherd, investigated the woman's finances and discovered a total of £25,610 was missing. Miss Mitten read the victim impact statement of the pensioner, who said: "I can't believe anyone would do this to me. I am completely devastated that someone who I trusted could do this.
"I don't know how she took advantage of me. I don't know if I will be able to trust anyone again. The money would have gone to a wildlife or animal charity. I worked hard for my money. I don't want to know how much was taken. It will upset me."
She added she was worried Portus might try to contact her again and requested a Restraining Order be imposed. For Portus, Nick Peacock said: "It is an unusual scenario because in a pre-sentence report she said she denies it."
He told she had no previous convictions. The defence barrister said his client's son suffers from autism and Aspergers syndrome and would have to be placed in care if the defendant was put in prison. "She was active in her church and in her community. It is a source of great shame," he said.
Judge Paul Watson KC: "You are 60 years old and of good character. That was until you decided to help yourself to over £25,000 of her money." He said the defendant, although entering a plea of guilty, had never admitted it. "You say it is a dreadful error, some terrible mistake but pleaded guilty for the sake of convenience. I am afraid I can see through that. You want it both ways in the hope that somehow you can maintain some last scrap of your previous good character. It doesn't and should not. It was an overwhelming case against you."
He said the victim was vulnerable. "Throughout her life she and her husband had put money aside. They accumulated, through hard work and thrift, sufficient sums to provide for their security. You worked for her and she considered you a friend," told the judge.
He added: "After her husband died in 2018 you helped with her finances. later you suggested you have power of attorney to make things easier for her and you. I am satisfied you meant for you. Money started to go missing. It is clear from the evidence this was done so you could help yourself. You even helped her to raise money with a view to increasing the funds to which you had access."
Judge Watson said: "This was a mean and despicable pattern of offending over a long period of time. It was an abuse of position of trust and of the friendship she bestowed in you."
He added: "It was a substantial part of her life savings. She can't put faith in others in her twilight years and unable to accept help again because of her inability to trust again. I am sure there would be a large number of the public that would say that for such mean and despicable offending like yours, only immediate custody is appropriate. I have a lot of sympathy with that view. But I have to consider the relevant factors."
He said the letter from a social worker outlining the impact on Portus' son, who would be deprived of his principal carer, would put considerable strain on public resources.
He imposed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. He ordered her to do 250 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay £750 compensation. The money taken from the woman was not recovered. A Restraining Order was imposed for three years.
After the hearing, Detective Sergeant, Abigail Farrow, of Humberside Police, said: "This was a thorough investigation over a long period of time. We hope it sends a message to others that the police and the courts take firm action against perpetrators of such despicable crimes."
She praised Willow Homecare staff, saying: "Thanks to them raising their concerns with us, we were able to investigate. We are grateful to them. Without them she might have been able to carry on taking money and frittering it away."