Mother who spent disabled girl’s cash facing jail

Cathy Watson, 44, pocketed huge sums of cash earmarked for Samantha Svendsen, 29, who had been awarded the money due to medical negligence when she was starved of oxygen at birth.

Rather than using the cash for her daughter’s 24-hour care, money taken over an eight-year period was spent on credit cards and cosmetic surgery.

Watson was convicted by a jury of three counts of theft and one of transferring criminal property at Doncaster Crown Court yesterday.

Her ex-husband Robert Hills, 49, had previously pleaded guilty to four theft offences for his part in the crime, which saw over £500,000 of money stolen by the pair.

Watson’s three-week trial heard how her daughter, who was adopted by Hills after he and Watson married, suffered irreversible brain damage because of medical negligence and suffered from cerebral palsy.

She needed 24-hour care and after Grimsby and Scunthorpe Health Authority admitted liability, compensation of £2.6m was awarded in December 1999.

The court heard £270,000 was given to Watson as payment for expenses she had already incurred and the remainder was paid to the Court Of Protection for the benefit of her daughter.

The pair were given £4,000 a month for household expenses to compensate them for not being able to work through providing full-time care.

But the court heard that despite this, they used the money to live a lavish lifestyle.

Katherine Robinson, prosecuting, told the court during the trial, that an analysis of spending patterns revealed that, between 1999 and 2004, £200,000 was spent by the couple on cars.

Almost £18,000 was spent on jewellery and from March 2000 to December 2001, more than £100,000 was spent on credit cards.

Money earmarked for a Florida holiday home for the girl was also pocketed, the court heard.

The court heard Watson spent a total of £12,222 on surgery, including breast implants and liposuction, over a period of about three years from a private cosmetic firm.

The jury was also told how the couple built up a 60-strong collection of Royal Doulton ornaments and also spent £1,000 on a dolphin sculpture.

They also developed a taste for luxurious cars.

When a payment from the Court of Protection was received, the couple purchased a Renault Laguna as a family vehicle and a Volkswagen Caravelle, which had been specifically modified to accommodate Samantha’s wheelchair.

But before long, Hills part-exchanged the Renault and bought himself a brand-new BMW. At the same time, Watson purchased a brand-new Volkswagen Beetle. The court heard how Hills then bought another six BMWs and a Mercedes.

Giving evidence against Watson during the trial, Hills said: “She got rid of the Beetle for a BMW Compact, then a Mercedes, then an Audi A4.

“After that there was a BMW in there somewhere then she purchased a Mini.”

Watson maintained throughout the trial that she did not check account balances, claiming she left all administration to Hills.

She claimed the Court of Protection never briefed her on her role as her daughter’s deputy or receiver for her money.

Watson wept loudly in the dock as the verdicts were read out yesterday.

Judge Jacqueline Davies told her: “The jury has found you guilty of offences that are distressing and serious.

“The sentence you receive will inevitably be one of custody and of some significance.”

Watson, of Scunthorpe, was however cleared of a further count of theft.

She and Hills, of Grimsby, are due to be sentenced together at a later date.