Police have arrested six men and a boy over ‘serious violence’ which saw a family motorhome ‘rammed’ moments after a ‘machete fight’.
16.11.2022 - 17:53 / dailyrecord.co.uk
A "selfish" drug user who scammed her elderly neighbour out of £8,000 has walked free from court. Gemma Ward was using heroin and monkey dust when she exploited the vulnerable pensioner and "took advantage of her generosity", Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
Prosecutor Peter McCartney told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that Ward had lived next door to her victim in Grangewood Road, Meir. The elderly woman, who was in her late 70s, had health issues and lived alone on her pension and savings.
Mr McCartney said: "The victim was conscious Ward was a single parent and would buy her sweets, and treats for her dog. Ward realised during 2019 she could take advantage of her generosity and would ask for money for electricity. Ward would ask for money to pay bailiffs. She simply did not pay the money back when it was 'loaned' to her.
"The victim was struggling during 2019 with her physical health and mobility. She asked Ward to get some items from the chemist. She gave Ward her card and her pin number for the card. Ward began abusing the trust, using the card to take money out of the cashpoint and taking cash back when she bought things.
"She went to the victim's house asking for things a couple of times a week. She used taxis to get all over the place and would ask the pensioner to pay for those taxis. Neighbours expressed concern. They knew the victim was vulnerable and they could see how frequently Ward was going to her house to get money."
Ward's scamming was eventually uncovered in September 2019, when the bank contacted the pensioner over unusual activity on her card. She went through the transactions, and Ward was spotted on CCTV using the card.
In a victim statement, the woman said she was so distraught by Ward's deceit that she
Police have arrested six men and a boy over ‘serious violence’ which saw a family motorhome ‘rammed’ moments after a ‘machete fight’.
A man who disappeared from a hotel in Argyll and Bute two days ago has sparked an urgent police search.
A desperate search has been launched to find a missing Scots man who vanished nearly two weeks ago.
A frantic search is underway to trace a Polish man who has been missing in Scotland for three days.
A search party is underway to trace a missing Scots man last seen two days ago.
A man remains in a serious condition after he was airlifted to hospital following a horror crash in Perthshire.
A police investigation has been launched after a man died suddenly at a sauna in Glasgow last night.
A young man has died following a horror crash in the Highlands.
A man has appeared in court charged with four attempted murders after a ‘disturbance’ which saw a motorhome allegedly rammed by a tipper truck moments after a 'machete fight'.
A man has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a 31-year-old was ‘run down by a car’ on a residential Clydebank street.
A man has been arrested and charged in connection with a ‘disturbance’ in Airdrie which saw a motorhome allegedly rammed by a tipper truck moments after a 'machete fight'.
Cops in Edinburgh have released the last known CCTV image of a Scot who disappeared three days ago. Martin Moran, 26, was last seen near Larch Grove House in Balerno at around 6am on Friday, November 18.
A police search has been launched for a missing Polish man who they believe may be sleeping rough in Edinburgh.
A man tragically died on board an easyJet flight while travelling to the UK. The plane was flying from Cyprus to Gatwick Airport when the man became unwell mid-flight.
A mum claims to have spotted Donald Trump 's face - on a cheese toastie.
A bomb squad has been called to Princes Street in Edinburgh after a man was spotted acting suspiciously in the area shortly before a bag was found nearby. Cops have locked down the street and put a cordon in place as a precautionary measure.
Melinda Gates is moving on from Bill Gates with a new man!
Hundreds of people turned out to attend the funeral of a well-liked Scots homeless man in his local town square. Good Samaritans raised thousands of pounds to give George Murray a fitting send off in Northampton.
Police say they are "extremely concerned" for the safety of a man who disappeared from his home on Tuesday afternoon.
A man who has been missing from Aberdeen for five days has sparked an urgent police search.