Mum jailed after stealing her own daughters’ £50k inheritance left by their gran – before splashing cash at Primark
A MUM has been jailed after stealing her two daughters’ £50,000 inheritance left by their gran.
Katherine Hill, 53, and her father Gerald Hill, 93, have both been sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after they staged a “blatant and brazen” fraud by taking every penny set aside for the girls.
WNSKatherine Hill has been jailed after stealing her two daughters’ inheritance[/caption]
WNSGerald Hill said he took the money from the account and handed it to his granddaughters personally[/caption]
WNSJessica said the ‘harm and pain’ caused by her own family is scary[/caption]
WNSGemma said the situation has caused a lot of ‘financial stress’[/caption]
Siblings Gemma and Jessica Thomas were the rightful owners of the lump sum left by late grandma Margaret.
The girls were told they could access the funds when they turned 25 – with their mum Katherine and granddad Gerald being trustees of the account in the meantime.
But the disgusting thefts were uncovered when one of the girls wanted her share early to buy a house – something that was allowed under the terms of Margaret’s will.
Prosecutors found the vile father-daughter duo had emptied the account within just one year.
Katherine splurged the cash on shopping trips to New Look and Primark while Gerald claimed he took cash out and directly handed it to his granddaughters in envelopes.
Gemma and Jessica told the court they never received a sealed document with money in from Gerald.
In a victim impact statement, Jessica said the “harm and pain” inflicted on her by family “scares” her.
The qualified nurse added: “Financially, my life has been affected more than I thought.”
No longer being able to afford the house she wanted, Jessica added: “I was given an opportunity not many people are lucky to receive, which was then taken away.”
In a written statement, her sister Gemma said that their actions have caused “a great deal of emotional and financial stress.”
She added that she feels “let down and lied to” by two people who are meant to be her “blood and family.”
Prosecutor James Hartson said Margaret died in 2013 with the money for her grandchildren placed in a trust managed in part by their mother.
Mr Hartson said Katherine later placed the money into a Barclays Everyday Saver account despite being advised not to – which allowed instant access.
Katherine and Gerald both had cards for the account and within 12 months of it being opened most of the £50,000 had been withdrawn through cash withdrawals.
The transactions included one for £15,000 and others for £10,000 – along with a single bank transfer of £2,300 directly into Katherine Hill’s account.
She claims that transaction was used to pay for the family’s boxer dog operation which Jessica had agreed to.
The fraud was only realised in 2018 and solicitors began a civil investigation into the fund.
The court heard that Christopher Thomas – Katherine’s ex-husband and Jessica and Gemma’s dad – reported the fraud to cops.
Katherine refused to give evidence during the trial.
Gerald however told the court he withdrew money from the account and handed it over in instalments.
He said he did this as a way of “easing the situation” as the girls were harassing their mother for money and thought it would save his daughter’s “sanity.”
Gerald said he would drive from his home on Gower, South Wales, to the Barclays bank in Llansamlet and withdraw cash using the card for the account – and take the money back home to his chalet.
He then would “distribute” the money to his granddaughters by driving to their home in the evenings and posting the envelopes through the letterbox – without speaking to the girls or their father.
Hill, who formerly ran a B&B in Oxwich and worked for Royal Mail, denied acting under instruction and denied using any of the money himself.
He said he did what he did “purely and simply to ease the situation between them [the granddaughters] and their mother”, adding: “I didn’t know what else to do – I thought it was the best thing to do.”
When cross-examined by prosecutor James Hartson, Gerald denied that he had been “coached” by his daughter about what to say.
He told the court that he had chosen the bank “practically next to” where his daughter worked as it was a branch he knew and was comfortable with.
‘Recruited’
Mr Hartson said that Gerald had been “recruited” by his daughter who had exploited the love he felt for her and then used him as a “stooge” before “throwing him under the bus.”
He added that Katherine did not have the courage to go into the witness box to answer questions.
Gerald replied: “She knew nothing about it. I did it off my own back. Nobody asked me to do it”.
DC Aled Brothers, the officer in charge of the case, said the cash “is impossible to follow” and there is no way to trace the money.
Gerald told DC Brothers that he would always protect his daughter, adding: “I’d die for her.”
Mr Hartson, described Katherine as a manipulative and dishonest woman – and lies were “comfortable and easy” for her.
He added she was “no stranger to chucking members of her family under the bus.”
The barrister said the pair are “thoroughly dishonest” and had acted contrary to their roles as trustees for the youngsters’ money.
He said that they were guilty of a “blatant and brazen” fraud in respect of the inheritance.
Katherine and Gerald were convicted after a week-long trial.
Judge, Recorder Greg Bull KC told them they had been convicted by the jury on “compelling evidence” and been driven by “greed and spite.”
He told Katherine that she played the “leading role” in the scam and her father was a “willing patsy.”
Katherine was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
Gerald Hill was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for 18 months.
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