Man Jailed For Defrauding His Grandmother Of More Than £30,000

A 29-year-old man has been jailed for defrauding his grandmother while she was being treated in hospital.

Daniel Westbury, of Keyes Avenue, Chatham, was sentenced to 20 months in jail for stealing more than £30,000 from his grandmother, who had asked him to look after her finances while she recovered from a fall.

An investigation by Kent Police found that Westbury, and his partner, Tracey Hallam, 30, also of Keyes Avenue, Chatham, transferred £34,000 to Hallam's bank account on 17 December, 2013 and used it to redecorate their home and buy an expensive new television.

It is understood that the pair also used the money to buy Mikaela Hallam, Tracey's sister, a new car.

The crime was brought to light when the victim became suspicious of her grandson's extravagant spending, despite being unemployed.

When she checked her bank account she discovered that more than £30,000 had been taken. With the help of a friend, she contacted police and Westbury and the Hallam sisters was arrested.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Mark Silk said: "Westbury and Tracey Hallam took advantage of a vulnerable family member and systematically drained funds from her bank account while she lay in hospital being treated for a nasty fall.

"Other than a new TV, a second-hand car and a freshly decorated home, they had nothing of real value to show for their deception – they wasted money they had no right to spend."

(MH/CD)