A carer from the Midlands has walked free from court after admitting to a cruel scam that defrauded a friend suffering from multiple sclerosis out of more than £5,000.
A friendship built on trust, betrayed
Laighken Green, 37, of Beechways, Retford, initially formed a genuine friendship with the victim, who has lived with MS since her twenties. The court heard that by 2021, Green had become the woman's carer after working for Total Healthcare Solutions, and was later referred to as her 'personal assistant'.
However, Nottingham Crown Court was told this position of trust was severely abused. Prosecutor Declan Austin stated the fraud began when Green started treating the victim's mobility car as her own. For nearly two years, she was in possession of the vehicle, using it to travel a staggering 41,812 miles.
The details of the deception
The fraud had multiple facets. After losing her job, Green used the specially adapted car for work as a delivery driver. When the vehicle was finally returned in 2024, it was in a dangerous condition, requiring over £2,000 in repairs.
Furthermore, while the victim was in hospital, she paid Green to clean her house. A witness reported seeing her clean only around five times, and even then for just half an hour, despite receiving over £1,100 for the supposed cleaning services.
The deceit extended to direct financial theft. Green withdrew cash from the victim's account, totalling more than £400, and set up a £1,356 Apple Watch on a monthly payment plan in the victim's name, before selling it at CeX. The victim also discovered an unauthorised payment for Sky TV services.
The total financial loss to the victim was £5,125.96.
Emotional impact and court sentencing
In a powerful victim statement read to the court, the 59-year-old woman said: "When I first realised what she had done I was so upset... She stole my hard-earned money from me. I just didn’t think she was like that." She added that the betrayal meant she would probably never trust anyone again.
Defending, Ellesse Taylor said Green, who is now on Universal Credit, was remorseful and "will do anything to put her actions right". Green pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
Sentencing, Judge Stuart Rafferty KC noted that the victim had "a lifetime of misery" and that Green had been not just a carer but a friend. He suggested she write to the victim to express her remorse.
Green received a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years. She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and to pay £1,200 in compensation.
