Woman fleeced her own grandad
GREEDY gambler Jemma Craig fleeced her trusting grandad out of more than £15,000 in a cruel betrayal of trust.
Craig systematically siphoned off the pensioner’s hard-earned cash to bankroll her betting addiction.
She was living with the 79-year-old, who has a number of health problems, at the time and he trusted her with his bank card to pay his bills.
But she helped herself to thousands in a series of thefts and frauds spanning more than a year, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Now the thief, of Elliott Drive, Felling, Gateshead, has been jailed for 16 months and was given a restraining order banning her from contacting her grandad.
The victim said in a statement: “Jemma has totally broken my trust and really upset me.
“I can never forgive her for what she has done.
“I would not wish her ill but our relationship is over.”
Craig, 32, pleaded guilty to theft of £12,000 and fraud to the tune of £3,500, between May 2015 and July 2016.
Locking her up, Recorder Ian Harris told her: “This was over 12 months of systematic and calculated dishonesty.
“This was cruel and calculated, systematic offending driven by greed and your desire for easy money.
“You stole from your grandfather when he was still mourning for the loss of his wife.
“This was a betrayal by you of all he and your family stood for.
“No sentence other than immediate custody is appropriate for this offending, by way of punishment and deterrence.”
The court heard Craig had lived with her grandad at his home in Gateshead since she was 16. His wife died in May 2015 and because of his medical conditions he needed help and Craig was supposed to be caring for him.
The pensioner has bronchial problems, angina, diabetes and mobility difficulties and needs help with day-today activities like cooking and washing.
Recorder Harris said: “Because of his trust and love he allowed you to use his bank card and therefore gave you access to his bank account.
“This was to ensure all his bills and the like were paid.
“He trusted you to use it with integrity and you abused his affection and trust for your own selfish purposes.
“You opened several accounts for your own use and withdrew cash.
“His council tax and rent weren’t paid on time by you and he got correspondence about this.”
Other family members became suspicious and concerned and contacted police. It turned out that as well as stealing cash, Craig had opened accounts for mobile phones, jewellery and clothes using his details.
Peter Walsh, defending, said: “Perhaps her best mitigation is that as soon as the investigation began she made full and frank admissions.
“She is of previous good character and is remorseful.
“What motivated this was what she describes as her addiction to gambling.
“As soon as the offences were discovered and she was in fact banished from their home, that shocked her into ceasing any such addiction. She tells me she has never gambled at all since the moment of discovery.
“She was banished from contact with most of her family, including her grandfather who she lived with. Her father also lives at that address as well.”