A callous fraudster assumed the identity of her 89-year-old victim to steal her cash and pay for a lavish honeymoon and four more exotic holidays in under a year.
Sophie Peach duped bank staff into unwittingly helping her steal more than £25,000 by putting on the voice of a frail elderly lady on the phone to set up internet banking.
Peach splurged over £3,000 on an all-inclusive honeymoon to Greece and also jetted off to Vietnam, Cyprus, Croatia and Spain.
Perth Sheriff Court was told widow Isabella McIvor had died aged 90, shortly after finding out she had been ripped off by her “friend” Peach.
The 45-year-old care practitioner – who ran a business called There For You – took £20,000 in a day after befriending the frail and vulnerable pensioner.
Peach then offered to bribe a friend with £10,000 to pen a letter backing her lies about being gifted the cash when police and family started uncovering her scam.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told the court Miss McIvor lived in a supported flat before spending her final days in a nursing home. She was unable to walk or use her hands due to a neurological condition.
Peach’s aunt lived in the same complex and when she advertised her services as a “companion” Miss McIvor hired her regularly for £20 per visit.
The pensioner began to trust Peach enough to let her use her bank card to withdraw cash for her while they were out together in Perth.
Miss McIvor was taken into hospital for a period in 2016 and again in July 2017, when her bank card was found to be missing and family began to investigate.
“The accused had telephoned the Clydesdale Bank twice and put on a voice to impersonate an elderly person,” said Ms Robertson.
“She was given a code to get access to the account. She called back and again impersonated the late Isabella McIvor.
“£20,000 was transferred from her bank account into the accused’s bank account on February 4 2017.”
Miss Robertson said the police discovered the money had been used to pay for holidays to Cyprus in April, Dubrovnik in May, Rhodes in July, Vietnam in October and Lanzarote in December 2017.
Miss McIvor was informed what had happened and said it was “terrible that money had been taken from her bank account without her say so.”
The victim’s bank card was found during a search of Peach’s home, along with letters from the bank confirming that online banking had been set up.
Peach told police that she viewed Miss McIvor as “a mother” and that she had been gifted £20,000 for her wedding. In reality, the pensioner had given her a plate as a gift.
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “She has family and personal issues. There are no previous convictions. Repayment steps are underway.”
Peach admitted obtaining a total of £25,132.25 by fraud between February 11 and July 3 2017. She admitted pretending to be the Perth pensioner to gain access to her money and to set up online banking.
She also admitted that she tried to induce Lorna Stewart to falsely depone that Miss McIvor had gifted her £20,000 to pay for her wedding. That took place between October 4 and 22, after Peach had first appeared in court and been freed on bail.
Sheriff William Wood deferred sentence for reports and granted Peach bail on the condition that she surrender her passport.
Peach, Gannochy Edge, Perth, donned sunglasses and a blonde wig in a bid to hide her identity as she left court.
