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A woman who stole thousands of pounds from a vulnerable 95-year-old neighbour will not have to pay back a penny.

Frances Fitzsimmons was a carer for vulnerable Edna Ford for many years, and said she was acting as the pensioner's friend, providing 'informal' care.

But instead, she stole from her, plundering her pension fund, bank account and ordering items for her own 15-year-old son, like toys, clothes and games consoles.

In total the 51-year-old took £12,317.43 without permission - and then tried to put the blame on her own family.

(Image: merpol)

She was jailed for 12 months in December 2018 for what the judge described as a "callous and thoroughly dishonest" crime. But when she appeared for today's Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Liverpool Crown Court , she was no longer in custody.

Anya Horwood, prosecuting, said the total figure by which Fitzsimmons had benefited from her criminal activity was £27,330.02p.

But as she had no assets, it was agreed that no order for financial compensation should be made.

In effect, it meant that Fitzsimmons had squandered all the money she had stolen from the pensioner.

A nominal sum of £1 - deemed paid - was imposed to keep the case active in the event Fitzsimmons comes into enough money to pay back some of what she had stolen.

The whole hearing lasted less than a minute, after which Fitzsimmons walked out of court a free woman.

(Image: Submitted)

Fitzsimmons, from Kensington, created accounts and ordered catalogue goods for herself in Mrs Ford's name, using her bank accounts, and on numerous occasions she withdrew cash for her own benefit.

Her victim had lived in Kensington for decades, remaining in the area after her late husband Frank died more than 25 years ago, and still has a number of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in the vicinity.

Fitzsimmons began her stealing spree in 2010 after she had started visiting Mrs Ford on a regular basis, giving her some breakfast, helping with bathing and dressing and generally tidying round her home.

There was no payment offered or agreed, and the victim viewed Fitzsimmons as a friend, with her own family often seeing the defendant at the address, having no concerns regarding her trustworthiness.

But instead Fitzsimmons, of Boaler Street, ransacked the pensioner's account.

Seeing things were amiss, the Ford family challenged Fitzsimmons, prompting her to return a box containing the cheque book and bank card, by placing it on the victim's bed.

(Image: Ian Cooper)

Inside her own home was a handwritten note, which appeared to be a prepared position in advance of any complaint whereby Fitzsimmons asserted she always had permission to access Mrs Ford’s accounts and denied any dishonesty.

A long and protracted police probe was conducted, and Fitzsimmons was interviewed no less than FIVE times, from 2014 to 2017, during which time she denied any criminality.

And she went further, alleging there were problems with Mrs Ford's relationship with her family, that they were stealing from her, that various family members used to attend her home for money, and the pensioner wanted to spend all of her money to ensure that her family did not receive any of it.

Due to these denials, handwriting analysis was obtained, which confirmed that Mrs Ford had not written the pension mandate form, the change of address form or the cheques, and to a strong standard that the handwriting on the cheques was that of the defendant.

Fitzsimmons, who eventually entered guilty pleas to fraud and forgery at the start of her trial, had no previous convictions, Liverpool Crown Court was told.

She worked "doing the dirty work" in a hostel, it was heard.

The case took an unusually long period of time to come to court, with one officer having to investigate it alone.

In a Victim Impact Statement at Fitzsimmons' sentencing, Mrs Ford, whose family spent three years getting her finances back on track, said: "This matter has been on my mind all the time.

"I can't sleep. It's horrible.

"I thought Frances Fitzsimmons was a really nice person... I couldn't understand why she had taken my money... how did she think she could do that?

"My son Frank has had to help me with money.

"I felt very angry. I trusted her... what was she thinking, how could she do this to me?

"Frances is a dangerous person to me, I can't believe she would make up these stories.

"My family are all shocked, they all liked her."

Fitzsimmons' defence counsel argued the money stolen was used solely to spend on her own 15-year-old son, with presents of Star Wars equipment, and PlayStations, and not to lead a luxurious lifestyle.

Fitzsimmons is a single parent with a teen son whose father died recently.

At her sentencing, Judge Anil Murray told her: "This was a real abuse of trust. The victim was particularly vulnerable.

"You committed these offences through greed, you wanted the money...you say you are embarrassed and so you should be."