Couple slam woman who stole from 96-year-old
Neighbour drained £25,000 from trusting Helen’s bank account
She knew straight away she’d been caught ...as soon as she walked in she put her hands up
Alan Smith
A despicable crook who stole £25,000 from a frail old woman and left her with just 96p in her account has been labelled “the lowest of the low”.
The East Kilbride relatives of 96-year-old Helen Love, who had her savings stolen by “trusted” neighbour Linda Beresford, have slammed the despicable post office worker.
Shameless Beresford robbed vulnerable Mrs Love of her savings over a four-year period.
The thief – who was initially charged with stealing £40,000 from Mrs Love – was jailed for 18 months at Airdrie Sheriff Court last week after pleading guilty to the reduced fivefigure theft.
The 48-year-old lived across the road from the pensioner in Calderbank, North Lanarkshire and befriended her after she fell and damaged her hip several years ago.
Pretending to be a good Samaritan, she offered to carry out domestic duties for the widow and also to withdraw £600 from her post office account every four months for her.
However, brazen Beresford’s motives were less than kindly and she took an additional £180 from her account every week – shamelessly tippexing receipts and writing false balances, which Mrs Love failed to notice.
The thief even accepted a Christmas gift of £250 from grateful Mrs Love.
Now, in the aftermath of Beresford’s sentencing, Mrs Love’s niece Marilyn Smith and her husband Alan, of Stewartfield, have hit out at her “awful crime”.
Mrs Smith said: “Doing this to a vulnerable old woman really is just the lowest of the low.
“She’s not taken money from a millionaire employer or some criminal organisation – my aunt is a defenceless old woman.
“We were in total disbelief when we heard and now we’re just relieved she’s been put away, although if it were up to us she’d be behind bars for another few years.”
Mr Smith fumed: “It’s an absolutely awful crime.
“Beresford was crying in the dock as she was sentenced but I don’t believe it’s real remorse.
“Her solicitor said she had developed the habit but your morals have to kick in at some point.
“If you’re struggling with something like that you talk to somebody – a habit isn’t an excuse.
“She left Helen angry, confused and shocked. She doesn’t deserve to feel like that, especially at her age.”
Beresford’s appalling actions came to light as Mrs Smith helped her aunt with her affairs during last year’s closure of Airdrie Savings Bank.
She explained: “A few times a year, Helen would ask me to withdraw money for her from the bank.
“When ASB closed, I asked her if she had any other accounts and she told me about the post office one, which I had no prior knowledge of.
“We went to Calderbank post office but Linda was working and gave an excuse as to why we couldn’t see the balance.
“I thought nothing of it but went to one in Airdrie the following day and was told the balance in my aunt’s account was 96 pence – despite my aunt insisting she had more than £40,000 in it.
“We checked Helen’s paperwork and saw the altered withdrawal receipts and straight away knew something sinister was happening and challenged Linda.”
Mr Smith continued: “We invited her over to Helen’s and took her into the kitchen for a word.
“She knew straight away she’d been caught because as soon as she walked in she put her hands up and said, ‘I took the money. I’ve been lifting her pension’.
“I think if Helen had died in her old age then we’d never have known; Beresford was trying to commit the perfect crime.”