‘Despicable’ carer preyed on pensioners
A CROOKED social worker defrauded disabled pensioners with more than half a million pounds.
Hilary Tideswell, 63, of Slead Avenue, Brighouse, was jailed for seven years and nine months at Leeds Crown Court on Monday, after preying on an 81-year-old woman, suffering from dementia by illegally obtaining power of attorney without her knowing.
The court heard Tideswell spent the stolen cash on a lifestyle of luxury which included buying Rolex watches and paying for lavish holidays.
Sentencing Tideswell, Judge Simon Batiste said: “Your actions were cynical in the extreme, carefully thought out and planned and great efforts were made to hide your criminality. These were despicable crimes.
“Anyone with any shred of humanity would be sickened and repulsed by them. You were happy to live a lifestyle way beyond your means by defrauding the very people you had responsibility for looking after. These were wicked offences you committed.”
She took advantage of the vulnerable woman after discovering she was ineligible for council funding as she had £500,000 in savings and a house.
Tideswell obtained unrestricted access to the victim’s bank account and sold the 83-year-old’s home in the village of Menston.
The court heard Tideswell, a Bradford Council care worker, went on to abuse her power by targeting another vulnerable male victim.
Tideswell forged a will for him and obtained probate so she could manage his estate and transferred £27,372 into her own account.
Tideswell continued to exploit her position of power, allowing her son Neil Moorhouse, 42, to live in the woman’s house rent-free, before selling the property when the stolen funds started dwindling.
Profits from the house sale were spent on a plot of land while some was used to pay off Tideswell’s outstanding debt.
When the Office of the Public Guardian began investigating, Tideswell tried to claim the payments were legitimate, even forging notes and insisting that the woman wanted to leave her money as a gift.
Further investigation showed the payments, many of which were on frivolous items and paying off debts, had not been authorised and were of no benefit to the victim.
When interviewed, her thenhusband David Tideswell, 66, said he had no idea the money was fraudulent, despite the fact his wife had significantly more than her wage would provide.
Tideswell pleaded guilty to two offences of fraud and one of converting criminal property at a hearing on March 2 this year.
Her former husband and son were found guilty after a trial of converting criminal property.
David Tideswell, of Regent Road, Kirkheaton, Hudderfield, and her son Neil Moorhouse, of Benomley Crescent, Almondbury, Huddersfield, both recieved two-year suspended sentences and were ordered to perform unpaid community work.
“Anyone with any shred of humanity would be sickened and repulsed.”
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