Women jailed over thefts from elderly neighbours

A mother and daughter who were treated “like family” by their elderly neighbours repaid their trust by robbing them of thousands of pounds.

Jade Pearsall, 22, was given the keys to help with the housekeeping and make meals for neighbours Jean Havenhand, who suffers with dementia and mobility, and Kenneth Sykes at their home in Church View, Swinton.

Mr Sykes had even helped out Pearsall and her mother Sandra Ingham, 43, in the past, loaning £600 to Pearsall and also giving her mother cash when she was short.

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Bev Tait, prosecuting, told Sheffield Crown Court: “Mr Sykes said they were treated like family and had no reason to believe they would steal from them.”

But in April 2012 Mr Sykes was informed that Mrs Havenhand’s bank account was overdrawn and he and her daughter-in-law investigated and found money had been stolen from the account over a five-month period.

It transpired that Pearsall had stolen £2,570 by writing cheques out to herself and paying them into her account and then she did the same for her mother who received £1,100.

Other cheques totalling £850 were also made out but it could not be proved they were stolen. All the money taken from the elderly couple was repaid by the bank.

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When arrested Pearsall admitted taking cheques, writing them out and cashing them for herself and her mother.

Mr Sykes said he was “distraught” at what happened.

“He felt he had been taken advantage of,” said Miss Tait. “He had helped them previously and was disappointed at their behaviour.”

Pearsall and Ingham, both of Church View, admitted fraud and theft offences.

Their barrister Dermot Hughes said initially they were trying to help neighbours in need but “good and honest neighbours became dishonest.”

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Temptation took over for Pearsall, who has a young child, but she was not living the high life and existed on benefits. Neither woman has previous convictions.

“They are not intrinsically dishonest people and want to repay the money,” said Mr Hughes. There were concerns over the mental health of both defendants and Ingham had medical problems.

Pearsall did not cover her tracks and it was unsophisticated offending. “They are ashamed of themselves,” added Mr Hughes.

Judge Roger Keen told the defendants he was constrained by the national Sentencing Guidelines Council otherwise their sentences would have been longer.

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He rejected the defence submission that it was not a breach of a high degree of trust. “You just threw it back in the face of these people,” he said.

He jailed Pearsall for eight months and Ingham for six months.