A fraudster who stole from a terminally-ill woman she was supposed to be caring for has been ordered to pay her family more than £25,000 - or face more time in prison.
Cheryl Ann Stringer, 54, defrauded Anne Blackham, then aged 82, buying a new oven, a tumble dryer, candles, jewellery, clothing and a tablet.
She also had new carpets and curtains put in at home.
It happened between November 2020 and January 2021, when Stringer was one of four members of staff supposed to be looking after Mrs Blackham at a Stockport care home.
Mrs Blackham had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, having moved to the home in December 2019.
She passed away on January 31, 2021.
Last November, Stringer was sentenced to two years for dishonestly making false representations to make gain in November.
Recorder Timothy Hannan QC described the case as 'an appalling case of cynical greed'. He said Stringer had stolen money from her victim at the rate of nearly £2,500 a week.
During a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court, judge John Edwards ordered Stringer to repay more than £25,000 to Mrs Blackham's estate - the amount taken, plus interest.
"The benefit is in the sum of £25,521," prosecutor Adam Watkins told the court.
"The court is invited to order that be paid by way of compensation to the estate of Mrs Blackham.
"The time to pay is three months."
Stringer appeared via video link from HMP Styal for the short hearing.
Judge Edwards warned Stringer, of Woodstock Crescent, Woodley, Stockport, that a six-month prison sentence would be imposed if she defaulted on the payments.
How the truth came to light
Greater Manchester Police said Mrs Blackham's nephew, who held power of attorney along with her solicitor, was responsible for providing his aunt with food and medical supplies.
He had access to her online back account.
On January 23, 2021, he logged into the account, and saw that £300 had been taken out in cash. He knew his aunt was bedbound, ad would have been unable to make that withdrawal herself, GMP said.
He checked bank statements and discovered a large number of purchases and cash withdrawals from the account, including a payment to an electrical goods wholesaler.
He also learned his aunt's bank card was missing, and put a stop on the account to prevent further transactions. He then alerted the police.
In total, Mrs Blackham's bank card had been fraudulently used to make payments and cash withdrawals totalling around £24,840, police said.
Cops established that Stringer had purchased a number of appliances, using a debit card with a number matching Mrs Blackham's bank account.
CCTV recovered from supermarkets and bargain stores, also showed Stringer making cash withdrawals from ATMs and inside at the self-scan checkouts, that matched with transactions on Mrs Blackham's account.
A search warrant was carried out on February 19, 2021 at Stringer's home, where she was arrested, and admitted buying a number of items using Mrs Blackham's bank card, including a gas oven, a tumble dryer, candles, jewellery, clothing and a tablet device.
It was also clear that her home had recently had new carpets and curtains fitted, police said in a statement.
Stringer's assets were frozen before she pleaded guilty at Stockport Magistrates' Court on October 18, 2021.
'A despicable crime'
Financial Investigator Mark Chesters from GMP's Stockport District said: "This was a despicable crime against not only a vulnerable elderly woman, but one that has deeply affected her family too.
"Ensuring that criminals do not profit from their conduct makes the point that not only will GMP do everything in its power to secure a conviction, but that whatever you take, you will have to pay it back. And I hope this sends a powerful message to anyone considering taking something that doesn't belong to them.
"Fighting fraud is a relentless task, but we will continue to work diligently to strip the ill-gotten gains from criminals and I'd like to thank the public for continuing to support our work by reporting fraud, and sharing information. If you see something, or suspect something is wrong, tell us, and we can do something about it."
