A callous carer who stole more than £10,000 from the wife of a bedridden pensioner she was supposed to be looking after, before blowing the money on KFC, Netflix and sunbeds has been jailed after pleading guilty to theft and fraud.
Danielle Houghton, 32, of Lancaster, Lancashire, was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison after admitting theft and fraud by false representation at Preston Crown Court last Friday.
Heartbreakingly, her 91-year-old victim – who had dementia – repeatedly told her children ‘something bad has been done to me, but I cannot remember what it is’ before the full extent of Houghton’s deception was discovered.
Her crimes began after she was employed to look after her 92-year-old client, who was bed-bound, before stealing a bank card from his vulnerable wife in November 2023.
In less than three months, she withdrew £7,700 from cash machines to spend, and splashed another £2,073.14 on trips to tanning shops, gambling sites, Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions, Sports Direct, KFC, petrol, and general shopping including cigarettes and alcohol.
She attempted to obtain an additional £800 using the card.
CCTV footage obtained from shops and street cameras show a carefree Houghton picking up snacks, purchasing items at SportsDirect and emerging from shops as she continued her spending spree unhindered.
Houghton did not stop until the woman’s children noticed the multiple transactions and the police were asked to investigate, Preston Crown Court heard.
Danielle Houghton, 32, of Lancaster, has been jailed after stealing more than £10,000 from the wife of a bedridden pensioner she was supposed to be looking after
In less than three months, Houghton withdrew £7,700 from cash machines to spend, and splashed another £2,073.14 on shopping, gambling sites and Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions, among other items
Houghton was also captured on camera at a Sports Direct shop purchasing items using the stolen credit card
Both the victim and her husband passed away before they could see Houghton brought to justice.
But in a victim impact statement, their son explained how Houghton’s victim had been ‘haunted by a distress she could not resolve’.
He said: ‘”Something bad has been done to me, but I cannot remember what it is…” That heartbreaking phrase was my frail, vulnerable, and deeply upset mum’s constant refrain.
‘She carried that desolate anxiety to her grave, unable to quietly enjoy the tranquillity of her home and garden in her final months, haunted by a distress she couldn’t resolve.
‘Danielle Houghton’s criminal actions have also regrettably tarnished the reputation of care providers in a sector already facing immense challenges.’
Her daughter added in the statement: ‘Sadly, Mum didn’t live to know that the person who defrauded her of almost £10,000 eventually met justice.
In another CCTV clip, Houghton was seen emerging from a shop after fraudulently using the stolen card to make a purchase
‘Instead, this fiercely independent but ultimately vulnerable 91-year-old lady died, knowing that she couldn’t trust those coming into her house to help care for her bed-bound husband.’
DC Peter Bennett of Lancaster Criminal Investigation Department described Houghton’s actions as ‘selfish’ and ‘despicable’.
He added: ‘I welcome the prison sentence handed down to her which not only punishes her actions, but sends out a clear message to others who might be tempted to offended in a similar manner.
‘Their mother died not knowing that the person responsible for taking half her life savings had faced justice, and their father also died during the course of the investigation, which increases the suffering of the family.’
