Molly Elizabeth Kelly, 24, of Compton Road, Southport, stole more than £16,000 from her housebound grandmother, using her bank cards between October and November 2024. The money had been received by the 78-year-old on the death of her husband.
Kelly appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, November 3, for sentencing after pleading guilty to theft. Ian Hopkins, prosecuting, said Kelly had one previous conviction for theft from her employer in 2023, when she received a conditional discharge.
How the theft occurred
Mr Hopkins said: "Her grandmother is 78. She was not in good health, she was housebound at the time. The defendant was living with her as she was caring for her, and that is in fact how she gained access to her grandmother's funds. The Crown accepts it's limited as to the period she has taken the money from the account. The grandmother's position is, as I understand it, that she doesn't want to provide a victim statement."
Lucy Moran, defending, said: "Ms Kelly can't remember the exact purchases she made. Ms Kelly is ill at the moment. It's the reason she couldn't attend her pre-sentence report. I raise the matter specifically because Ms Kelly wants to be open with the court. She has been in hospital from October 29."
Sentencing and conditions
Ms Moran said Kelly was still a carer for her grandmother, whose health was deteriorating rapidly. She said: "She is the only one that her grandmother will allow to support her and Ms Kelly spends the majority of her time doing so."
Judge Medland sentenced Kelly to 16 months in prison, suspended for 16 months. He also made a probation requirement and extended her curfew by three months. He said: "If you commit other offences of this matter again, it will seriously ruin your life because the court will be left with no option but to sentence you to prison."
