Harlow woman jailed after stealing more than £80,000 from vulnerable victim
Police say the fraud continued for more than three years, with Jenny Taggart, 44, pretending the money was needed for family emergencies
A woman has been jailed for stealing over £80,000 from a vulnerable young man in Harlow over a period of more than three years.
Jenny Taggart, 44, of Longfield in Harlow, was sentenced to 27 months in prison at Chelmsford Crown Court after pleading guilty to theft and fraud.
Essex Police said she began targeting the victim in September 2020 during the Covid pandemic. He was 18 years old at the time and had recently received an inheritance.
Police financial investigators linked the stolen money to Taggart’s bank and PayPal accounts after a long investigation. They found that she had taken a total of £86,811 from the victim, often by pretending it was needed for emergencies involving her family and claiming she would repay him from an inheritance.
Detective Constable Karen Venables said: “Our work doesn’t stop at sentencing – it’s vital we continue through the Proceeds of Crime Act hearings to establish what funds can be recovered from Taggart. That outcome is as important as the criminal case because it’s only right we minimise whatever impact we can for the victim.”
The fraud began when Taggart persuaded the victim to give her access to his finances, hiding payments and transferring large sums to herself. When he tried to protect the remaining money by opening a new bank account in 2021, she asked him for further payments, again promising to pay him back.
In 2023, the victim spoke to his family about his concerns and they contacted police and Action Fraud. Investigators found transactions the victim had no knowledge of, including one where his card was used to buy a phone in Taggart’s name.
Detective Sergeant Rachel Barrett said: “Taggart’s crimes were brazen, exploitative and cruel. She manipulated him with stories of her mother being abused in a care home and her son being targeted by loan sharks. She would pay him back with the sale of a property in Florida. It was all a fantasy so she could live beyond her means at his expense.”
A timetable for the Proceeds of Crime Act process has been set, with a further hearing due on 11 December 2025 at Chelmsford Crown Court to determine how much money can be recovered.