[A] FRAUDSTER who applied for loans totalling £100,000 in her mother’s name without her knowledge has been spared immediate prison.
Carlisle Crown Court heard Pearl Sharon Spedding, 57, made dishonest applications to eight different companies early last year. Spedding did so in the name of 77-year-old Nora Ferry, who at the time was supporting her and completely “in the dark” about her daughter’s illegal activity.
Only when a bank alerted Mrs Ferry to unusual account activity and large money transfers were the crimes uncovered. Spedding immediately confessed, and later admitted 11 charges of fraud by making false representations.
She was sentenced today (WED), when Judge Peter Hughes QC said only the contents of experts’ background reports had spared her immediate prison.
A 16-month jail term was suspended for two years, and Spedding, of Crossfield Road, Cleator Moor, was ordered to complete a rehabilitation requirement.
More than £14,000 was seized from her, and will be used to compensate Mrs Ferry who, the court heard, had lost “a sum of money”.
Judge Hughes told Spedding she had been “downright dishonest”, and “betrayed” her mother.
