MOTHER USED OAP’S BANK CARD TO FEED HER KIDS AS THINGS WENT ‘BADLY WRONG’
37-year-old also claimed she was full time carer
FRAUDSTER Lucy Lightfoot used a bank card belonging to an 84-year-old neighbour she was caring for – to buy food for herself and her children.
The cash-strapped 37-year-old was caring for the elderly neighbour and trusted with a key to her home.
But the mum-of-two abused the pensioner’s trust by using the bank card to buy goods worth £32.42 from the Day and Night shop, and £20.85 from Tesco for herself.
She also fraudulently claimed £122 Carer’s Allowance from the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP).
Now Lightfoot has been sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
The fraudulent Carer’s Allowance claims were lodged between December 31, 2017, and January 1, 2019. The claims impacted on the pensioner’s other benefits.
Prosecutor Ian Shaw said: “The pensioner received a call from her bank on November 1, 2019, and they raised concerns about money going out of her account.
“CCTV showed the card being used by the defendant. Once the police established what had been bought, the victim was able to say, ‘I have not bought that’.”
Lightfoot, of London Road, Trent Vale, pleaded guilty to three offences of fraud by false representation.
James Hulse, mitigating, said Lightfoot did care for the victim, but ‘there was never an agreement that a Carer’s Allowance could be made out.’ The defendant received two payments of Carer’s Allowance.
Mr Hulse said: “The victim told the defendant that her income had been reduced. The defendant said she was really sorry and ended the claim. She was the woman’s carer, but not for the 36 hours required for the Carer’s Allowance.”
Mr Hulse added: “She had problems with her benefits in 2019 and had no food for her children. She used the card to buy food.”
The suspended sentence includes a six-month mental health treatment requirement and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
Lighfoot must also pay £53.27 compensation, £135 costs and a £115 surcharge.
District Judge Timothy Boswell said: “The victim was someone who trusted you. She was an 84-year-old lady. Things went badly wrong and you abused that trust.
The judge added: “This all happened a long time ago and you have not been in trouble since.
“Some of the factors that led you to commit the offences, such as your financial situation at the time, are no longer the case.
“There is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. And if I were to send you to custody immediately, it could have a significant harmful impact on your children.”