Peterborough man who stole £2,500 from elderly woman is jailed

Lee Holliday, (34), offered to do general work for the woman, who is in her 80s and suffers from dementia, at her home in Woodston, Peterborough.

The victim gave Holliday her bank card, which he used to withdraw more money than he was due.

Cambridge Crown Court heard some of the sums may have been legitimate but amounts of between £200 and £300 were withdrawn on multiple occasions between May and August last year.

Police were alerted by a carer after she saw Holliday take money from the victim’s purse without permission and he was arrested in September.

He was charged with fraud and on Friday (March 10) was jailed for 18 months at Cambridge Crown Court after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.

Judge Stuart Bridge said those who preyed on vulnerable victims could expect substantial custodial sentences.

He said Holliday, of London Road, Peterborough, had previous convictions for acquisitive crime, including a conviction in 2015 for fraud against a 90-year-old man, for which he was jailed for 26 weeks.

DC Leigh Mann, who investigated, said: “Holliday got to know this lady and offered to do work for her with the intention of taking more money than he was due and over six months took £2500 from her account. He was asked to stay away by people who knew the victim but he ignored them.

“It is a despicable crime to prey on the elderly and vulnerable and we will do everything in our power put those who do so before the courts, where they can expect prison sentences.”