Woman who stole nearly £20,000 sentenced

A daughter who stole nearly £20,000 from her elderly mother has been sentenced to a year in prison suspended for 18 months.

65 year-old Janet Davies, of Great King Street, Macclesfield was also ordered to pay £237 in costs and undertake 150 hours of unpaid work during the hearing at Chester Crown Court on Thursday 21 August.

She had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of retaining a wrongful credit.

The court heard how Davies had secretly applied for attendance allowance on behalf of her elderly mother.

Davies would then use and spend her mother’s money she was receiving from the Department of Working Pensions.

Following her sentencing, Detective Sergeant Laura Fox, of Macclesfield CID said:

“Davies knowingly took advantage of her elderly mother to commit audacious acts whilst in a position of trust.

“She should have been managing and supporting her vulnerable mother’s finances, not exploiting them for her own financial gain.

“Her offending has had a detrimental effect on the victim in this case and resulted in a significant financial loss for the Department of Working Pensions, and subsequently Davies is now facing the consequences of her actions."