January 16, 2013

Woman 'ruthlessly exploited' elderly neighbour

By Anne Clarkson

A woman who stole money from an elderly neighbour to play the pokie machines has been sentenced to 18 months intensive supervision, community work, and has to pay the money back to the neighbour?s bank.

Emma Lee Lamb, a New Brighton 44-year-old, assisted the 82-year-old woman over a number of years when she needed to do her shopping.

In August 2012 she stole a bank card from the woman?s purse and used it over four days to successfully withdraw a total of $7370. There were also 11 unsuccessful attempts to get another $4960.

In the Christchurch District Court today, she was sentenced on 13 charges of dishonestly using a document.

Defence counsel Craig Fletcher said Lamb could make weekly payments to pay the bank back, and he was seeking a supervision sentence to help her. He said the bank had repaid the victim.???????????????

Judge Neave said Lamb had a history of dishonesty, and she had ruthlessly exploited the vulnerability of the complainant, who had found it greatly distressing.

He sentenced her to 18 months intensive supervision, 300 hours community work, and reparation to the bank at $40 per week.

She has to be assessed for counselling and treatment, including psychiatric intervention, and do any programmes her probation officer recommends.