Estate agent jailed for conning elderly client out of £160,000
Elizabeth Smith defrauded her client to spend the money on expensive holidays and a new car
A woman working as an estate agent in Rye has been jailed for five years for defrauding an elderly client out of £16,000.
Elizabeth Smith, 52, previously of Winchelsea Beach but now of Wilton Road, Bexhill, was given the money to help complete the purchase of a property. She instead kept the money and spent it on herself, including on expensive holidays and a new car.
Her victim, Joan Cannon from St Leonards, had been in court to see Smith admit the offence earlier this year, but died soon afterwards.
Detective Sergeant Mitchell Humby said; "This was a heartless fraud on an elderly and vulnerable person. It only came to light when the victim became suspicious of the transactions passing though her account and the person from whom she was buying the property became concerned as to why she wasn't receiving the money in payment.
"The trial was then delayed for court scheduling COVID-related reasons but the victim followed the case, so she eventually saw Smith admit her guilt and be remanded in custody to await sentencing. However, tragically Joan died only a few days later."