A north-east woman has been jailed for defrauding a relative she was supposed to be caring for out of more than £7,000.
Rosemary Shirran told her aunt Edith Craib she would take care of her finances, but subsequently developed a fraudulent scheme which “grew arms and legs.”
In January 2015, she succumbed to temptation and began helping herself to money which was not her own.
During the next 21 months, she withdrew money, opened new bank accounts in her aunt’s name, used the funds to pay household bills and set up accounts with Littlewoods, BT, Studio Cards, Sky and JD Williams.
Throughout this period, she obtained £7,500 by fraud.
Shirran confessed to the offence during an earlier appearance in Aberdeen Sheriff Court where she returned yesterday to be sentenced.
Representing her, defence agent Bob Anderson said: “The situation grew arms and legs and went spectacularly out of control.
“She is 53 years of age and has never been in any trouble previously.
“She has been extremely anxious and stressed by the whole situation.”
He added that she was prepared to repay the money at a rate of £50 per fortnight but Sheriff Philip Mann said this offer by Shirran meant she would take almost five years to repay the money.
Mr Anderson said in response she was prepared to pay at an even higher rate.
However, imposing a sentence, Sheriff Mann said: “This is an extremely serious case given it was a gross breach of trust to have stolen from your elderly aunt, someone you were providing for.
“There are guidelines in relation to benefit fraud – this case is far more serious.
“It gives me no pleasure to do this – it is not something I like to do. But I can see no alternative to a custodial sentence.”
He jailed Shirran, of Kirkhill Road in Aberdeen, for 22 weeks.
