A woman has been sentenced to prison for stealing over £200,000 from her mother, who suffers from dementia.
Luana Dougherty, 50, from Great Sutton, Cheshire, faced confrontation from family members after a year of extravagant spending, according to police reports.
Dougherty pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation after she established online banking for her mother’s account following the sale of her mother’s house.
At Chester Crown Court, she received a four-year prison sentence. During police questioning, Dougherty acknowledged that she had exploited her mother’s vulnerability to commit the fraud.
While she managed to return £80,000, more than £216,000 remains unaccounted for.
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Chester Ward expressed gratitude for the victim’s family, who provided vital evidence throughout the investigation. He stated, “Dougherty completely abused her position. Instead of being a trusted caregiver, she stole from her mother for her own selfish needs.”
He emphasized the importance of vigilance in monitoring the welfare of vulnerable family members.
