Granddaughter's Betrayal: £90,000 Stolen from Elderly Grandfather
A university graduate who systematically stole £90,000 from her elderly grandfather, later blaming her actions on what she called 'spoilt brat syndrome', has been spared an immediate prison sentence.
Rebecca Culley, 34, from Runcorn in Cheshire, was entrusted with helping care for her widowed grandfather, Thomas Culley, after her grandmother's death. As part of this arrangement, she helped set up his online banking and was generously permitted to use his debit card for small purchases, described by Mr Culley as 'bits and bobs'.
Systematic Theft Over Two Years
Instead of using the card modestly as intended, Culley embarked on a two-year spending spree between March 2021 and February 2023. The mother-of-three secretly looted her grandfather's life savings, spending his money on extravagant purchases.
Prosecutor Alexandra Carrier told Chester Crown Court that Culley had set up online banking and was able to make contactless payments and online transactions without her grandfather's knowledge. 'She bought multiple items and spent considerable amounts of money using the victim's account,' Carrier said.
The thefts included using £2,500 from her grandfather's Argos store card to buy Christmas presents for her own children. The scheme only unravelled when Cheshire Police were called after Mr Culley's account was completely emptied.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Culley, who holds a degree in psychology and counselling from Staffordshire University, initially claimed her grandfather had given her permission to use his bank cards. She later confessed to being a 'spoilt brat' who had taken advantage of his generosity.
She pleaded guilty to three charges of theft, while a fourth charge alleging she stole jewellery from Mr Culley was ordered to lie on file.
In mitigation, defence counsel Simeon Evans said Culley had been raised by her grandparents due to difficulties with her natural parents. 'What she should have been was eternally grateful to her grandparents,' he acknowledged, describing how she had helped care for her grandmother before her death.
Judge Steven Everett sentenced Culley to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. He also ordered her to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and six months of mental health treatment.
The judge noted the 'significant breach of trust' and told Culley: 'You were stealing money hand over fist belonging to him without his knowledge. I suspect your grandfather will look at this and ask himself "What did I do to my granddaughter that made her do these things to me?" That is something you have to live with.'
Mr Culley declined to provide a victim personal statement, which Judge Everett described as showing 'generosity of spirit'. The total amount stolen was £90,360.11, which has since been refunded by HSBC bank.
