Gambler defrauds pensioner

Gambler defrauds pensioner

A WOMAN has admitted stealing thousands of pounds from an elderly neighbour to fund her bingo addiction.


Barbara Taylor pleaded guilty to three theft offences, involving a total of £20,300 cash, and two offences of fraud.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the deceptions involved dishonestly using the credit card of the victim, Elizabeth Bailey, to obtain camping goods from Go Outdoors Ltd on June 23 last year and Sunseeker Sunbeds on September 15 last year.

Harry Pepper, prosecuting, said that 58-year-old Taylor pleaded guilty to the thefts, which took place between June 23, 2009 and February 25 this year, on the basis that she had only stolen £11,670 and this was accepted by the Crown.

He said that Taylor performed errands for the victim, who is elderly and infirm, and had had control of her finances and had used some of the money legitimately and some of it non-legitimately.

The court heard that she had a bingo gambling habit and had taken out large sums of cash to spend at bingo halls.

Taylor denied another fraud offence involving obtaining camping equipment from the same store on June 15 last year and this is to be dropped.

Judge Gerald Clifton agreed to further remand Taylor, of Hornby Grove, Leigh, on bail until Thursday January 5 to enable a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

But he warned her “stealing in this way is generally punished by immediate imprisonment”.