SPENNYMOOR WOMAN JAILED FOR FLEECING HER VULNERABLE SISTER OUT OF £15,000
A woman with a callous streak exploited her defenseless sister, swindling her out of £15,000 under the pretense of funding a holiday and clothing, despite claiming she was in financial difficulty.Maria Stringer took her sister’s bank card and refused to return it after transferring £7,500 into her own account, asserting it was payment owed for her role as carer.
The victim’s financial abuse was uncovered when her brother grew concerned about her monetary situation.
Prosecutor Brooke Morrison explained that the scam spanned over three years, during which the sister received a backdated personal independence payment totaling £26,000 before the deception was revealed.
Morrison added, “The defendant forced her sister to drain her bank account and seized her card, denying her access to her own funds.
She then used the money for her own purposes.
A total of £15,000 was taken.
During this period, the defendant isolated her sister from other family members and dictated her daily routines, including diet, sleeping schedule, and permissible video games.
Despite claiming financial hardship after losing her job at Greggs bakery, she spent £1,000 as a holiday deposit.
The victim stated in court that she felt completely betrayed by her sister’s betrayal.
Stringer, aged 40 and from Drake Street, Spennymoor, admitted to fraud by false representation and coercive control spanning from December 1, 2018, to June 28, 2021.
Judge Richard Bennett described her conduct as ‘truly wicked and callous,’ and sentenced her to 27 months in prison.
He also issued a restraining order to safeguard her sister, commenting, “You exploited your younger sister’s vulnerability by taking a substantial amount of money.
As her older sibling, you were aware of her fragility and chose to take advantage of it.
Her testimony clearly shows her vulnerability.”
