Woman posed as a friend to con former Financial Times journalist with Alzheimer's out of £120,000

A woman has been jailed for five-and-a-half years after conning a veteran journalist out of almost £120,000.

Michelle Brathwaite, 48, of Silchester Road, Kensington posed as former journalist Sir Samuel Brittan’s friend and helper, and claimed she had a degree from Cambridge University, to gain his trust and that of his family.

Between August 1 2016 and April 30 2017, she went on to transfer approximately £117,000 from his bank accounts to her own, and used his American Express credit card to fund holidays and buy designer clothes.

Officers from the City of London Police began investigating when they were notified by Sir Samuel’s bank of irregular use of the peer’s card.

Sir Samuel is the brother of former Home Secretary Sir Leon Brittan.

Brathwaite pleaded guilty at the start of her trial at Southwark Crown Court on December 11 2018 to three counts of fraud (one by abuse of position and two by false representation) and one count of theft.

She was sentenced on February 14 at the same court.

During sentencing, Judge Loraine-Smith described Brathwaite as “an extraordinarily dishonest and deceitful woman whose only intention was to steal his money and enjoy it”.

Detective Constable Alex Wilson, from the City of London Police, said: “Brathwaite abused her position of trust to steal thousands of pounds from a vulnerable man who thought she was there to help him.

“By posing as Sir Samuel’s friend, she was able to completely control his finances without him noticing and went to considerable lengths to deny these crimes when she was confronted.”