Jailed: Shropshire carer fleeced money from vulnerable man, 89

Elizabeth Teague became so close to 89-year-old Derek Perks he regarded her as a "daughter", Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

He bought her an £11,750 car, paid for her £1,200 honeymoon and lavished cash gifts on the 45-year-old trickster as well as paying a salary to her as his carer.

Teague, from Alveley, repaid his trust by getting him to sign cheques that were paid into her own account and stealing cash, said Miss Lynnette McClement, prosecuting.

The defendant, who had previous convictions for fraud and theft, was an alcoholic without permanent accommodation when the pair met at the Talbot pub in Stourbridge, the court heard.

Miss McClement revealed: "He extended the hand of friendship in full knowledge of her difficulties. He offered her a place to stay and assistance – and she took advantage of this.

"She described herself as being seen by the gentleman as a daughter.

"He was clearly forgetful at the time and is certainly now senile."

Teague, who now lives in Lowe Lane, Alveley, lived at his address for a short time until being helped to get her own rented home in the Stourbridge area. She was paid a weekly sum to clean, shop and look after him.

Then in October 2013 Mr Perks was found severely dehydrated on the floor where he had been lying for three days without any assistance. He was taken to hospital in a serious condition and later transferred to a care home.

As a result of the incident members of his family discovered that substantial sums of money were missing from his bank account and a new will had been prepared in the defendant's favour.

His brother Malcolm said in a statement to police: "Because Derek trusted her as he did this has had a huge impact on his life. He has become a virtual recluse. He does not go out any more, even with friends he has known for years, because he has become so suspicious of people."

Teague faces a Proceeds of Crime case later this year aimed at clawing back the money she stole. She said in a letter to the court: "I deserve to be punished."

She originally denied stealing £47,000 from the victim but pleaded guilty to theft after the figure was reduced to £26,500.

Mr Christopher O'Gorman, defending, said: "She helped herself to money from a vulnerable man but he was also giving her gifts of money. She did not befriend him to steal but put herself in the way of temptation and succumbed to it."