Ex-teacher jailed over £7,600 theft

A former school teacher from Shropshire has been jailed after stealing nearly £8,000 from a 94-year-old woman.

Norma Hartley-Porter, 67, spent the money on herself on items ranging from lingerie to sheep. She also kept several of her pets in kennels across the county and never paid the bills – which totalled more than £8,500.

Hartley-Porter, of Brooklands Park, Craven Arms, stole the money from her 94-year-old friend Christine Kermode, who used to run the Kincoed Hotel in Llandrindod Wells.

The defendant and Mrs Kermode struck up a friendship and when the hotel closed, Hartley-Porter moved into the premises – rent-free – in early 2009.

From February 2009 to October 2010 she stole £7,683.

Hartley-Porter admitted the charges of theft, attempting to steal, fraud and obtaining services by dishonesty at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday and was sentenced to eight months in prison.

The court also heard that in 2005 she was convicted of stealing £4,450 from a 64-year-old man, who was also a friend, by using his bank card and pin in order to take out cash for 18 consecutive days.

Miss Jo Barker, prosecuting, told the court Hartley-Porter had assured the kennel businesses she would pay her bills, but when questioned by police it was discovered she never had any money.

Miss Barker said: "She said she had inheritance that could pay all the debts off, but she could not verify that."

Mr Michael Sherwood-Smith, for Hartley-Porter, said: "Whilst it may appear to fly in the face of the offences she committed, she is a caring person.

"This was not a sophisticated fraud and no sleight of hand, but she has to accept that she took advantage of the lady who was prepared to trust her."

Passing sentence on Hartley-Porter, Judge Peter Barrie said he accepted her finances were not in order, but added her behaviour was criminal.

He said: "How is it, on the information I have received that I have to deal with a retired school teacher at the age of 67 for such serious criminal offences?

"You took advantage of a lady in her 90s.

"She was placing her trust in you and you abused that trust."

He told Hartley-Porter she would have to serve half of her sentence in custody and the other half out on licence.