Woman admits ‘despicable’ theft from pensioner

Victoria Thornton, 41, from Brackenhill Close, Brayton, near Selby, appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday charged with two counts of theft from the 82-year-old man who is visually impaired.

As well as helping with housework and errands, she also helped with banking transactions.

Police said she withdrew £4,840 from his account over the course of a year. It is believed a similar amount of cash was also stolen.

Pc Tony Robertson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “This was the most despicable and callous crime I’ve ever come across.

“The way Thornton manipulated and took advantage of a disabled and vulnerable elderly man was truly appalling.

“Over a period of a year she literally emptied his bank account of his life savings.

“It reached a point where household bills were going unpaid, bailiffs were knocking on the victim’s front door and his life insurance policy was cancelled, meaning this poor man was desperately worried that the cost of his own funeral was no longer covered.”

Thornton will be sentenced at Teesside Crown Court on September 25.