'How could someone who appeared so nice be so nasty?' - Pensioner duped out of £80k by carer speaks out
When Shropshire pensioner Christopher Dunning first met his neighbour Susan Weston, he thought she was a kind and helpful woman.
But little did he know, she spent years using his money for herself and stopped him from having contact with the outside world.
Last week she was jailed for more than four years for the crimes.
Speaking exclusively to the Shropshire Star, 76-year-old Mr Dunning, from Market Drayton, explained how his life was turned around by Weston.
"More than 15 years ago I moved into my bungalow with my late brother Nicholas," Mr Dunning said.
"He was disabled and I wanted to look after him at home – we are twins.
"As we moved in I met my then neighbour Susan Weston.
"She was very keen to help and because she was so friendly we welcomed her in and soon I trusted her explicitly.
"For many years she would visit us, do the shopping for me and deliver a meal. I always paid.
"She would invite me over on a Tuesday and then go to my house to pick up my post etc. Often I would come back and things were in a different place but I thought no more of it.
"Such was my trust in that woman that when she suggested it I allowed her third party access to my bank account. Soon after she took control over my personal affairs too.
"When my brother passed away in 2001 I hardly ever saw anyone but her.
"Sometimes she bought me clothes. I never asked but was grateful and I always paid whatever she asked for.
"They were never new clothes – probably from a charity shop – but I thought that was all I could afford."
Mr Dunning said he had no idea that Weston was draining his bank account for herself.
The first time he was made aware of the situation was when police went to visit him, following up an anonymous caller who was concerned about the situation.
He said: "In 2014 I was contacted by the police. I was astonished when they showed me my bank statements.
"Over the years the amount was drained and often overdrawn.
"There were purchases I had never known about, including paying more than £220 for Susan's dog to be cremated.
"Thousands of pounds were gone.
"She would do huge supermarket shops of £100 plus and I would never see half of that. It would get more expensive at Christmas.
"I found out she fraudulently wrote cheques from me in order for her to buy clothes, lap tops, take aways, haircuts and presents for her grandchildren.
"My money was wiped out. She would also use my garage to store all her things – it was full. It was obvious who was responsible and her greed completely shattered my trust.
"How could someone who appeared so nice be so nasty? I felt very lonely for the first time in my life.
"I felt empty and vulnerable.
"I thought she cared. I thought she was a lovely honest woman and I was grateful for her apparent kindness.
"How terribly wrong I was to have ever let her into my life. I never suspected a thing and Nicholas would have never known.
"Not content with stealing all my money – once arrested she had the audacity to phone and also got a friend to phone to encourage me to take pity on her and drop the charges.
"Thankfully I was so well supported by professionals I was able to report it and didn't drop the case as she would have wanted.
"I have had to change my phone number and when it rings I still feel uncomfortable."
Weston, of Bartons Lane, Market Drayton, was jailed for three years and four months for the theft of the monies, a further six months for attempting to pervert the course of justice and an additional four months for the benefit fraud offences. She had admitted all the charges.
A further theft charge relating to another Market Drayton pensioner, who has since died, was ordered to lie on file.
Mr Dunning said he was glad the ordeal was over.
He added: "I would have the liked the sentence to have a few more 0s on it.
"I didn't want her to have a long sentence just for me but for all the other people she targeted.
"I would like to say a huge thank you to all the people who have helped me since finding out the news.
"I never realised I could afford to update my home and buy new clothes from the shop but now I can.
"My broken furniture has been replaced and I now have a bed which supports me so I can sleep better in a bedroom that is no longer damp.
"My life has been turned around by some amazing people - I am now happy and well and truly grateful for all the hard work undertaken to ensure I live a better life."
