Woman given suspended sentence for stealing over £222,000 from elderly relative
The 34-year-old admitted to stealing from the victim that she was supposed to be caring for
A woman has received a suspended prison sentence after admitting to stealing more than £222,000 from an elderly family member she was entrusted to care for.
Rebecca Culley, 34, of Seneschal Court in Runcorn, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday, 17 November. She was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years, after previously pleading guilty to three counts of theft.
Culley had been supporting and caring for the victim since 2021, giving her full access to his financial accounts. Between 2021 and 2023, she transferred over £222,800 from his accounts into her own without his permission.
In addition to the stolen funds, Culley used a store credit card taken out in the victim’s name to buy more than £4,000 worth of goods—purchases the victim was completely unaware of.
The thefts came to light only when the victim’s family reviewed his financial statements and discovered his accounts had been drained, leaving him in a vulnerable financial position.
Following police enquiries, Culley was arrested in February 2024 and subsequently charged.