An “out of control” gambling addict who stole more than £75,000 from a devastated elderly Carlisle couple while working as their trusted carer has been jailed.
Rebecca Agnes May Fidler, now 34, had been tasked with providing extensive help through a private company to the couple — aged in their 80s and 90s — when her callous crime was committed between September, 2019, and April, 2021.
Her duties included cooking, cleaning, shopping, along with personal care and hygiene. But “unhappily”, Carlisle Crown Court heard today, Fidler was also given their bank card to make pension payment withdrawals but effectively cleaned out their entire life savings.
During a “sophisticated” attempt to cover her tracks, the court was told she initially moved money within the victims’ accounts before transferring it into one in her maiden name of Armstrong. Online references stated “cleaning” and “shopping” as she made dishonest transactions often several times a day with the cash splashed on gambling, cocaine and takeaway food.
As the couple asked about obtaining bank statements, Fidler responded by saying there were “technical problems”, and sought to keep hold of their card. When bank employees first noted suspicious activity, Fidler initially sought to claim the couple’s card was left in her vehicle which she falsely said had been stolen, and also that she was in control of their finances.
The elderly couple implicitly trusted Fidler, initially finding her extremely helpful, and had “no inkling” she had been stealing from her. However, they were described as being “devastated” to learn Fidler had taken £75,287 — leaving them with only around £2,000.
Prosecutor Brendan Burke said the impact: “Both of them said they had nothing to live for and asked how could they afford to survive.”
Accepting the suspicious transactions should have been picked up earlier, the bank had since reimbursed the couple to the tune of £40,000.
Sadly the man had since died while his widow watched over a video link as Fidler was sentenced by a judge having admitted theft. She had also gone “digging” by asking what the couple had told police following her arrest.
Defence lawyer Andrew Evans said Fidler was remorseful, had no previous criminal convictions and told a probation officer she was deeply terrified by the prospect of prison. “She believes her behaviour is fully deserving of such a sentence,” said Mr Evans. “Had this been done to her parents, she would have wanted the perpetrator to go to prison.”
Mr Evans spoke of Fidler, a mother of Holywell Crescent, Carlisle, also having an undiagnosed and poorly managed bipolar disorder, of self-medicating with cocaine and suggested community support would best benefit her and the public at large.
Recorder Julian Shaw imposed a 30-month jail term for what he called a “dreadful offence”.
“What you did when you were entrusted with their bank card was systemically to steal from this very elderly, very vulnerable and entirely trusting couple,” he said. “(The man) did not live to see the outcome). (The woman) now has to manage as best she can with what she has left.”
