Cleaner stole pensioner’s £50,000 life savings to feed gambling addiction

A trusted cleaner stole a pensioner’s life savings of £50,000 to feed her gambling addiction.

Jennifer Richards took George ­Godden’s money over five months — finally getting caught in 2018 when he could not pay a bill.

The 50-year-old mum-of-two, who gained access to his bank details while cleaning, transferred £28,325 to her own account and used his bank card to withdraw £4,540 cash, Maidstone crown court heard.

She also asked him for a £9,000 loan, which he agreed, then asked for a bank transfer, saying the cheque would not clear quickly enough.

But instead of ripping up the cheque, she banked it.

Mr ­Godden, of Sittingbourne, Kent, died in 2019, aged 80, without seeing Richards face justice.

It is believed he was reimbursed by the bank.

Richards was jailed for 27 months for fraud by false representation and theft. Nicholas Jones, defending, said her gambling addiction had prompted her ‘out-of-character behaviour’.

But investigating officer Det Con Madeline Brackley said: ‘She preyed on his kindness and vulnerability but continued to deny her crimes.

‘I’m glad she received a custodial sentence.’

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