A jailed finance worker who fleeced her own gran out of £24k which she spent on JustEat, McDonald’s, and William Hill has been ordered to pay back just £84.
Amanda Farr, 48, was sentenced to 18 months in jail last year after a jury found her guilty of fraud. The court heard that she had stolen the money from her grandmother, Joyce Hutchings, and used it to make online purchases with JustEat, McDonald’s, iTunes, and the PlayStation store. She also made bets with William Hill and even booked a holiday to Amsterdam.
The deception left Ms. Hutchings, who was 91 years old at the time and living in Whitstable, in financial distress, with debts to utility companies and debt collection agencies becoming involved.
At a recent confiscation hearing, it was determined that Farr’s actual financial benefit was £13,910. However, her available assets were found to be only £84. Consequently, Judge Simon Taylor KC ordered Farr to pay the £84 as compensation within 28 days. Failure to do so would result in an additional seven days of imprisonment.
During the trial, the jury learned that Farr deceived her grandmother for almost two years by intercepting her mail and phone calls, as well as diverting her savings into her own bank account. Farr claimed that her grandmother had given her consent to spend the money on her own needs, but this was rejected by the court.
The scam was uncovered when Ms. Hutchings’s son, Ronald, discovered her bank accounts were overdrawn while she was in the hospital recovering from a fall.
At the time of Farr’s sentencing, Stewart Ross-Cumming, a financial investigator for the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, described her actions as callous and calculated. He emphasized that no one should think they can exploit vulnerable individuals without facing consequences.
While the confiscation order was limited, it is possible for offenders to be pursued for further funds if they are found to possess additional assets in the future.
Despite the outcome of the case, it serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding elderly individuals from financial exploitation. Families and authorities must remain vigilant to protect vulnerable members of society from such fraudulent schemes.
