By Woman steals nearly £9,000 from young daughter’s own bank account
Grimsby Crown Court heard how a woman stole nearly £9,000 from her own daughter’s bank account and spent every penny.
Kerri Pawson, 42, of St Helen’s Crescent, Brigsley admitted fraud and theft after telling police her daughter, 18, had spent the money on mobile phones.
She later admitted that the account had been set up in her daughter’s name, with the money due to be sent to her daughter from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for an undisclosed reason.
The only restriction on the £8,763 was that the daughter is 18 years of age when she received it.
In 2017 the mother set up a bank account in her daughter’s name but over the subsequent two years she moved £500 at a time from the account into her own account.
The daughter questioned her mother about when the money to which she was entitled would become available.
Pawson told her daughter that the money was with a holding company that had gone bankrupt, prompting arguments in which Pawson had accused her daughter of being “a liar” and having spent the money on mobile phones.
She then contacted the police to alert them of her fraud suspicions.
The court heard how the mother’s fraudulent behaviour negatively impacted the daughter’s mental health.
The defense added that this was Pawson’s first offence and that she had sought help for mental health issues.
The judge imposed a 24-month term in prison, suspended for two years as she was at low risk of re-offending and did not present a danger to the public.
The Recorder said she had to undergo 300 hours of unpaid work which is the maximum the court can order.
He said the victim would be able to apply to The Compensation Board to regain the money owed to her.
