A carer who stole from an elderly widow's bank account on the day of her husband's funeral claimed she "snapped."
Margaret McPhail, 62, carried out a total of £11,800 of cash withdrawals on 87-year-old Agnes Fowler's account from her home in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire. McPhail - who cared for her neighbours - withdrew the cash between March 5, 2019 and January 21, 2020.
She was snared after family members went through bank statements after Mrs Fowler's husband's death. A transaction found to have taken place on the day of the funeral led to them uncovering further unsanctioned uses of the bank account.
McPhail pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to the single charge of theft. The court heard that McPhail was a neighbour of the elderly Fowlers before becoming their carer.
The widow had hidden away her husband's bank card in a cupboard. Mr Fowler's funeral took place on January 21, 2020 around which time the bank statements were uncovered.
Prosecutor Siobhan Currie said: "A transaction was made on January 21 from her late husband's bank card. This led to a further investigation with the family looking back at bank statements.
"They discovered unusual amounts of money being withdrawn." Mrs Fowler contacted McPhail to tell her that she was going to go to the police.
She was later visited by the thief who told her: "I think you know what I'm going to tell you, I snapped, my head is all over the place, I don't remember any of it." A police investigation uncovered that £11,800 was stolen in total.
The losses were reported to the bank and it is unknown if Mrs Fowler's losses have been recovered. Sheriff Mark McGuire deferred sentence until next month to see if the money has been repaid.
He said: "Be under no illusion, I'm giving serious consideration of sending you to prison for this serious matter and the nature of these offences. You stole money from an 87-year-old woman to the tune of nearly £12,000 having obtained a bank card and made bank withdrawals including the day of this woman's funeral.
"The presumption against a custodial sentence are muted due to the nature of these offences. You should be prepared for a custodial sentence."
McPhail, also of Cambuslang, had her bail continued meantime.
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