Hartlepool mum spent £5,500 of granddad's money on her and family after he developed dementia
A woman who spent more than £5,000 of her grandfather’s money after he developed dementia and moved into a home has been spared jail.
Katie Byron, 34, used her granddad’s bank card to buy things for herself and her children while also transferred money from his bank account into her own after he became too ill to manage his affairs.
Over seven months in 2023, she spent the money on multiple shopping trips, fuel, Amazon Prime purchases and Primrose Valley Holiday Park, in Filey, North Yorkshire.
In contrast, her grandfather was left with next to nothing in his care home account and at one point a social worker had to use £200 of council petty cash for him for clothes.
Byron was found guilty of two counts of fraud by false representation after standing trial at Teesside Crown Court in April and returned to court to be sentenced on Friday.
Prosecutor Elisha Marsay said Byron had looked after her granddad on an informal basis.
When he could no longer look after his own affairs due to his dementia and had to move into a care home, Byron was urged by the local authority to seek lasting power of attorney.
But she failed to do so. Despite this she spent £3,892 with her grandfather’s bank card and transferred another £1,555 into her own account.
Miss Marsay said: “Given the financial arrangements at the time, the only thing the defendant would have been able to do is put money into a care home account.”
She added: “While her grandfather’s funds sat in negative, the defendant’s bank statement shows top ups of her own personal account with her grandfather’s money.”
The court heard Byron, a mum of two of Chester Road, Hartlepool, was of previous good character.
Eleaor Durdy, mitigating, said she had helped her grandfather with his finances for a number of years before his illness.
Ms Durdy said she “seemingly didn’t seem to understand the court protection process”, adding: “This is not a case where the defendant has deliberately targeted her grandfather on the basis of his vulnerability, but rather may be considered to be reckless.”
Judge Andrew said Byron had abused her position of trust and sentenced her to six months prison, which was suspended for 18 months, plus probation.