A former Girl Guide leader from Perthshire who befriended a 93-year-old woman then robbed her of £8,000 has been jailed for a year.
Ann Taylor, 53, stole the cash from the pensioner over eight months between July 2013 and February 2014 at locations in Muthill, Crieff, Dunblane and Perth
Taylor, of Lintibert Terrace, Muthill, also stole £163 from an 84-year-old man at his home in Crieff in October last year.
Perth Sheriff Court heard that her 93-year-old victim, a former nurse, led an independent life having lived alone for 30 years since retiring.
Taylor had befriended the pensioner after they met at a number of social gatherings held in Muthill.
Depute fiscal Bill Kermode said an element of trust was established between the pair, to such an extent that Taylor was given access to the pensioner’s bank account via a cash point card and pin number to pay for groceries, without the 93-year-old’s family knowing.
In November 2013 the victim’s health deteriorated and she became a permanent resident in a Crieff care home.
Suspicions were raised when a cheque for a haircut bounced as her family knew their mother had limited expenses. A check of her bank statements showed regular withdrawals from cash machines predominantly in Muthill.
When Taylor was interviewed by police she admitted taking and spending the sum of money, but claimed she had nothing to show for it.
Her second victim, an 84-year-old man who lived alone, was recovering from a fractured hip when Taylor stole his pension money.
Following his fall a friend had been collecting his pension money each week, while Taylor had been visiting him at home to check on his wellbeing.
However, during one visit she pocketed the pension payout for herself after it had been left in an envelope on a kitchen table. She later repaid the money.
Solicitor David Holmes sated that Taylor, who had been treated for low mood and depression since 2000 and had attempted suicide in March, regretted the harm her actions had caused.
He added: “She would have wished to have been able to return the money but simply can’t.”
Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told Taylor that the £160 theft was of an opportunistic nature, but that both crimes had been committed against vulnerable people of a significant age.
He said: “You have taken advantage of trust placed in you by a lady of significant age. The first offence went on for some considerable time.
“A significant amount of money was misappropriated and you have no means to make restitution. That, together with the fact you are unfit for unpaid work, makes custody inevitable.”
