Couple deny theft from elderly aunt (From Bournemouth Echo)

Couple deny theft from elderly aunt

11:01am Thursday 6th September 2012 in News

A WOMAN accused of plundering her elderly aunt's savings after she became too ill to manage her own financial affairs told police: "All I'm guilty of is being a nice, kind person."

Jane White, 57, and her husband Michael White, 61, from Berkley Road, Pimperne, near Blandford , deny stealing £54,722 from Olive Cutler between June 1, 2006 and January 31, 2011.

Widowed Mrs Cutler, who is in her late 80s and suffers from Alzheimers, is a resident at a North Dorset care home, jurors at Bournemouth Crown Court heard.

During interview with police officers, Mrs White maintained that the couple had spent a lot of money on her aunt and her late uncle, doing washing for them and taking them to and from hospital.

She added: “I feel I've done my very utmost for my aunt and uncle who I loved dearly. I really don't think that I have stolen any money from her; we have looked after her and my uncle.”

During i w on January 12 this year, Mr White was asked why three payments had been made to him from one of Mrs Cutler's accounts totaling £15,170.

He said: “I honestly don’t know; I can’t remember.

He denied having a gambling problem, adding that the money had been for “day to day things.”

Mr White insisted that he hadn't stolen the money, adding: “Certainly not, family give to family.”

However he told investigators he did not have sufficient funds to repay Mrs Cutler.

Mrs White said she had assumed her aunt, who did not know that her home been sold, would have let them have the money after she had lived at their home.

She added: “I don't see it as theft; I see it as having money back for all the time and effort we spent looking after her. I feel that all I'm guilty of is being a nice, kind person.”

The case continues.