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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Liam Buckler

'Viper' carer stole 100-year-old widow's savings to fund 'lifestyle beyond her means'

A trusted carer who spent the life savings of a 100-year-old widow to go on luxury trips must repay £445,000 - or face jail.

Rhian Horsey, 55, from Cardiff, spent over eight years caring for Iris Samson and posed as her "guardian angel".

However, she was described as a "viper" after stealing from the trusting widow and forcing Iris to remortgage her home so she could spend on "extravagances including luxury holidays".

Police investigated Rhian's spending to find she was "living a lifestyle beyond her means".

The former school governor and Girl Guides leader was jailed after she was found guilty of defrauding her victim of up to £320,000 from 2011 to 2017 after a massive investigation.

A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing was told that Rhian has £482,973 of available funds - and must pay back a compensation figure with interest of £445,901 within three months.

Police investigated Rhian's spending to find she was 'living a lifestyle beyond her means' (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Prosecutor James Wilson said: "She had taken cash from the bank for personal benefit. Horsey systematically exploited and defrauded."

Mr Wilson said Rhian started caring for Iris at her home in Cardiff after she suffered a heart attack.

He said: "Despite her age she remained living on her own in the house she built with her late husband.

"She did require some care. Her daughter unable to provide her mother with all her care needs so from 2003 to 2017 Rhian Horsey worked for Mrs Sansom as her carer.

"She started staying the night. She did this three nights a week. She received £480 per month – £40 a night."

Cardiff Crown Court heard an investigation started when Iris's daughter Kathryn Taylor became aware of the repeated withdrawals from her mother's account - including several at £500-a-time.

Mr Wilson said: "She became concerned Horsey had taken advantage of her mother."

The court heard Iris also allowed Rhian to make cheques out to herself for her wages, but some were found with payments of up to £3,0000.

When interviewed by police, Iris said: "I trusted her completely."

She added: "She had access to everything – I trusted her with all my finances.

The court heard Iris also allowed Rhian to make cheques out to herself for her wages (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

"She helped me as I was unable to do much myself. She would help me with washing and she used to cream my feet for me.

"I would go to bed quite early and she would do something with the finances and would come down and have a cup of tea and watch television.

"It became something to look forward to and she seemed to enjoy it as well. I thought she was my friend."

Rhian, of Groesfaen, near Cardiff, denied seven counts of fraud between 2011 and 2017 totalling £226,300, but was convicted by a jury after a four-week trial last year.

Jailing her for five years Recorder Mark Cotter told Horsey: "You advanced yourself as Iris's guardian angel and saving grace when in truth you were a viper. Her savings are gone."

He added: "You were dishonest and deceitful and driven by greed.

"If she had had an honest carer instead of you she would still have that money and still have equity in her house."

The latest hearing in the same court on Friday ruled that failure to repay the money would see Rhian serve a further three years in prison.

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