Sarah Schofield admitted four counts of fraud by false representation after stealing from her father and grandmother over several years, but walked free from Liverpool Crown Court due to the impact on her children

A mum "raided" her own nan's bank account and stole from her dad as her mother lay dying in hospital.

Sarah Schofield swindled more than £14,000 from her father and grandma over the course of several years, splurging the ill-gotten funds on her gambling habit. The sorry episode led her "heartbroken" dad to label his daughter a "manipulative thief" as a result of her "cold, calculated and devious" actions.

But she today walked free from court due to the potential impact of an immediate prison sentence on her children, with a judge telling her that she will receive "one chance" only, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Monday, that Schofield was able to pocket a total of £14,194.79 as a result of a campaign of fraud which spanned nearly three years, with the con having persisted between 2017 and 2020. This included her helping herself to funds amounting to £5,060 from her grandmother's Post Office account after taking bank card from her purse.

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James Rae, prosecuting, described how Schofield, of Upper Park Street in Toxteth, meanwhile posed as her dad David Schofield in April 2018 in order to obtain a £1,200 loan from MBNA. The now 37 year old went on to set up a NatWest bank account in her father's name, using this to take receipt of these funds and making payments to online casinos which resulted in an overdraft totalling more than £2,000.

Schofield was also accused of raiding a second Lloyds TSB account belonging to her grandmother. Mr Rae stated: "Clearly, the gravamen of this offence is less the amount money involved but the clear abuse of trust in the way that she was going about raiding her family's accounts."

In a statement read out in court on his behalf, cancer survivor Mr Schofield expressed: "It's unbelievable that my own daughter has taken advantage of me in this way. To steal from me is despicable.

"Over the years, family and friends warned me that Sarah could be manipulative. I never imagined she'd be so callous and destructive. This is the same girl I drove around so she could compete for Liverpool Harriers running club. I put in so much time and effort. This is how she repays me. I thought we were close. Clearly, she was just using me.

"She planned it all out. It wasn't spontaneous or spur of the moment. It was cold, calculated and devious. My health has been very poor recently. The stress of the court case made it worse.

"Sarah knew what she'd done, yet she dragged the whole process out. My health has deteriorated due to the stress and worry of trying to sort things out with the bank, preparing for court and coming to terms with the fact that my daughter is a manipulative thief. My heart is broken. I can't dwell on it too much. I try and keep Sarah's offending locked away in a mental box."

Schofield's sister Katie prepared a statement on behalf of their grandmother, who the ECHO has opted not to identify. She said: "My nan was betrayed and exploited by somebody who should have been a source of support and protection. I feel anger and sadness that a member of our family could exploit nan's vulnerability in this way.

"Sarah was trying to take everything she possibly could from her. Her lies and manipulation have been ongoing for years. She played family members off against each other. I firmly believe she was deliberately trying to tear the family apart so nobody could piece together the truth of what she was doing. We were once a tight-knit family.

"It broke her heart to realise her own granddaughter was stealing from her. I haven't seen my niece for nine years. I now have a nephew who I've never met. I will probably not get the opportunity to do so. My dad has grandchildren who he can't see. My own children have two cousins who they can't have a relationship with.

"I believe Sarah's offending had a serious impact on my nan and led to her decline. The thing that hurts me most is, on the day our mum died, Sarah was applying for loans in my dad's name rather than being at hospital to be with mum. She was feathering her own nest."

Schofield, who has a clean record, is the mother of two children, including a six year old son with "complex needs" who is non-verbal. Rebecca Smith, defending, told the court: "She has never been in trouble before, and this will be a very heavy, deep black mark on her name.

"Some would describe this offending as wicked, some as mean. Some would describe this as taking advantage of those closest to her. It is right to say that the offending takes place on a background of addiction, grief and having to deal with a young family.

"What came after this offending has had a huge impact on Ms Schofield, on her own circumstances and her ability to deal with the addictions. It is correct to say that, with support from [her children's father] and limited extended family members on his side, she has been able to provide a stable environment in which she has been able to rear two children.

"She has never been in trouble before with the court. There will be dependants who would suffer greatly from her removal. She is a low risk of harm. She is a low risk of reconviction.

"This offence is now of some age. It has not been repeated, and there is no suggestion that Ms Schofield would repeat that type of offending with the background that was in play at the time. She has taken steps, of her own accord, in the intervening period to rid herself of that addiction.

"She is now in a position where she is in receipt of benefits. But those benefits are providing stability and the foundations on which it appears that the family is moving forwards, comfortable and safe in an environment that Ms Schofield, with some assistance, has been able to provide for those children.

"This is a family in which Ms Schofield is trying to do the best. It appears, from what is written about her by professionals, that she is, ultimately, the person who is able to regulate her son and provide that safety net. If the court was to remove her, there would be consequences which would be felt far and wide.

"She is not a woman who should be simply cast aside because of previous mistakes. She is somebody who is remorseful for what she has done. There is an option for the court to draw back from that immediate term of imprisonment and provide a constructive suspended sentence order. Ms Schofield knows that, if she does not comply, she goes to one place and one place only."

Schofield pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation. Standing in the dock dressed in a white jacket over dark clothing with long black hair, she received a two-year prison sentence suspended for 18 months, along with 120 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 15 days.

Repeated lies and manipulation

Passing sentence, Judge Louise Brandon stated: "Your father finds it unbelievable that his daughter has taken advantage of him in the way that you did. He feels that your relationship was there just for you to take advantage of him. You should feel utterly ashamed that this is how he feels about you. His heart is broken by your actions.

"Katie Schofield describes your repeated lies and manipulation. What hurts her most is that, on the day your mother died, you were not at hospital, but instead applying for loans in your father's name.

"The offending went on for a sustained period of time. The offences against your father involved significant planning. Your father and grandmother trusted you, and you breached that trust. You were, at the time, supposedly providing care for your grandmother. It was mean, it was cruel and it was devious.

"It is of note that you were readily admitting that you were gambling, and some of the money was going on that and alcohol. You have no previous convictions. You are a mother of two young children who have their own challenges and difficulties.

"It is clear from all I have read that [your son], in particular, has complex needs. He needs round the clock care and has regular appointments. You are the one who manages all of that. It is likely that he would no longer be able to go school, for example, if you were to go into custody.

"These offences are now several years old. You have struggled with mental health issues and addiction. Those are difficulties that I ought to take into account, which may go some way to explaining what you did.

"You undoubtedly have strong personal mitigation, given the circumstances pertaining to your children. I have no doubt that they would suffer significant harm were you to go into custody.

"I have concluded, just, primarily because of the impact of a custodial sentence on your children, that appropriate punishment can be achieved by a sentence that does not result in immediate custody today. You are getting one chance, and that is it. This order can and will be done. You will complete this order. I do not expect to see you again."