Bank conwoman mimicked OAP’s voice to steal £25k
Sophie Peach, 45, befriended her vulnerable victim – whom she had claimed was like ‘a mother’ – before plundering her cash for holidays.
The care practitioner, who ran a business called There For You, transferred £20,000 in one day from the account of Isabella McIvor, from Perth, who died shortly after discovering Peach had robbed her.
When Peach realised police were investigating, she tried to bribe a friend into helping cover for her, offering her £10,000.
Perth Sheriff Court heard Miss McIvor had been living in a supported flat before spending her final days in a nursing home. She could not walk or use her hands due to a neurological condition. While in the flat, the widow saw an advertisement for a ‘companion’ and hired Peach – whose aunt lived in the same complex – for £20 per visit.
Miss McIvor soon began letting Peach use her bank card to withdraw cash for her.
When the pensioner was taken into hospital in July 2017, family members discovered her bank card was missing.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson said: ‘The accused had telephoned the Clydesdale Bank twice and put on a voice to impersonate an elderly person. She was given a code to get access to the account.
‘She called back and again impersonated the late Isabella McIvor – £20,000 was transferred from her bank account into the accused’s account.’
Peach spent more than £3,000 on an all-inclusive honeymoon to Greece, plus had trips to Vietnam, Cyprus, Croatia and Lanzarote.
Miss McIvor was told about the fraud and had said it was ‘terrible that money had been taken from her bank account without her say-so’, the court heard.
The pensioner’s bank card was found during a search of Peach’s home, along with bank
Found bank card was missing
letters confirming the set-up of online banking.
Peach told police she viewed Miss McIvor as ‘a mother’ and that she had been given £20,000 for her wedding.
But after being charged with the fraud, Peach asked friend Lorna Stewart for a ‘huge favour’ – to say Miss McIvor had given her money as a gift.
She offered her ‘£3,000, then £5,000, then £10,000’ but Mrs Stewart refused.
Yesterday, Peach admitted obtaining £25,132.25 by fraud between February 11 and July 3, 2017. She admitted pretending to be Miss McIvor and trying to induce Mrs Stewart into saying the cash was a gift.
Peach’s solicitor, David Holmes, said: ‘She has family and personal issues. There are no previous convictions. Repayment steps are under way.’
Sheriff William Wood deferred sentence for reports and granted Peach bail.