A woman stole £34,000 from her grandad and spent it on drugs, tattoos and takeaways.
Nicole Taylor, 25, took advantage of her grandad over 14 months to fund an "almighty bender." The carer and pub worker took control of Norman Glover's care following his dementia diagnosis in 2020, Preston Crown Court heard.
She took over his finances and care after concerns were raised on how well he and his wife, Julie Glover, could look after themselves. Prosecuting, David Clarke explained that both Mr and Mrs Glover had children from previous marriages and Taylor was the daughter of one of Mrs Glover's children.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Mr Glover's daughter, Caroline Spindler, was particularly concerned as she lives in Oxfordshire and was unable to visit frequently. She made various calls to check on his welfare and weight loss and was told that Taylor had been given power of attorney, Lancs Live reports.
On one occasion when she visited, there was no food in the fridge and wet clothes appeared to have been left in the washing machine for some time. Mrs Glover's health rapidly deteriorated during the year and she tragically died in June 2020.
After Taylor was given permission to access Mr Glover's bank account for the purpose of paying for maintenance for his house, she started to use it to fund a cocaine addiction. Taylor, from Chorley, also used it to fund takeaways and tattoos.
The thefts were spotted and Mr Glover, who had enjoyed some recovery from his health problems, and his daughter took bank statements to the police. When interviewed, Taylor admitted stealing the money and explained that she had been "off my face on cocaine" for much of that time.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Glover said: "I am incredibly disappointed in a person I thought the world of. I am hurt that a loving and caring girl that I treated like my own could do this to me. This will never go away and I will never like anyone else to find themselves in the same situation."
He said that he had lost everything including being able to choose his own retirement home, adding: "Your grandmother would be ashamed of you."
Defending, Jane Miller said Taylor deeply regretted what she had done and had wrote a letter of apology to her grandfather after she was arrested. Ms Miller said she intended to pay back every penny and planned to hand over her share of an upcoming house sale towards it.
Sentencing, Judge Simon Medland KC described Taylor's behaviour during that time as "living on an almighty bender" on her grandfather's life savings, adding that it was an "enormous breach of trust". He said there was no appropriate alternative to jail and handed out a 14 month sentence.
READ NEXT:'He was my best mate' dad's heartbreaking tribute to son killed in Speke crash
'I think he's dead' - Driver's 999 call after teenager killed in high-speed chase
Mum, 22, died after being told to 'get on with it'
New Look's 'incredible' £36 dress that's 'perfect for a spring wedding'
'We're here to stay!' Popular restaurant hits back at closure rumours
