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Carer stole £290,000 from 102-year-old woman Carer jailed for stealing £290,000 from 102-year-old woman
(about 3 hours later)
A carer has been found guilty of stealing nearly £290,000 from a 102-year-old woman. A "merciless" carer who stole nearly £290,000 from a 102-year-old woman has been jailed for nine years.
Julie Sayles, 59, of Sewerby Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, bought two houses with money she took from a bank account she shared with Edith Negus.Julie Sayles, 59, of Sewerby Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, bought two houses with money she took from a bank account she shared with Edith Negus.
She was convicted of six charges at Hull Crown Court, including fraud by abuse of position, as well as making a fraudulent will and presenting it to a solicitor. She was found guilty of six charges at Hull Crown Court, including fraud by abuse of position.
She is due to be sentenced later. Mrs Negus's great niece Ann Ruthuen said the family had been "unable to grieve for aunt Edith".
In a statement read to the court, she said the case had caused stress and anxiety and "it has devastated many of us".
"Julie Sayles organised the funeral and there was no mention of Edith. Edith always wanted a headstone and Julie never provided one for her. After the funeral she was sat laughing on a bench. We have sat all week through the court case and listened to the evidence. It has been very distressing."
She described her great aunt as "a beautiful, kind, lovely woman" who was loved by many friends.
More on this and other East Yorkshire storiesMore on this and other East Yorkshire stories
A jury of nine men and three women took less than two hours hours to find her guilty of fraud and buying two properties with the proceeds of crime after a six-day trial. Recorder Anthony Kelbrick told Sayles: "For merciless fraudsters like you there can be only one sentence: prison.
"You took advantage of her frailty time and time again."
He said Sayles had "coveted" the wealth Mrs Negus had gathered and saved through hard work.
A jury of nine men and three women took less than two hours hours to find her guilty of fraud, buying two properties with the proceeds of crime, as well as making a fraudulent will and presenting it to a solicitor, after a six-day trial.
Margaret Long, a friend of Mrs Negus' for 25 years, said: "The last words Edith said to me were she was very doubtful about Julie."
During the trial, the court heard the former charity worker, who described herself "as a woman of faith", persuaded Mrs Negus to change her will to benefit her.During the trial, the court heard the former charity worker, who described herself "as a woman of faith", persuaded Mrs Negus to change her will to benefit her.
The jury was told she had made withdrawals of £7,688, £90,000, £40,000 and several withdrawals totalling £150,000 between February and July 2014 after she set up the joint account in January of that year. Mrs Negus died in the October.The jury was told she had made withdrawals of £7,688, £90,000, £40,000 and several withdrawals totalling £150,000 between February and July 2014 after she set up the joint account in January of that year. Mrs Negus died in the October.
Sayles used the money to buy properties - one in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and another in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.Sayles used the money to buy properties - one in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and another in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
She claimed the pensioner had known exactly what she wanted to do with her money and that she "had repeatedly said that she wanted me to have that money".
Prosecutor Robert Stevenson told the court Sayles was described by others as "domineering" and had taken advantage of Ms Negus's vulnerability.