Found guilty but no reparations!

Tiggi126

Please can anyone help/advise. A younger niece 29, came to stay with mum and I. We are 87 and 67 years old. A year ago we discovered that she had stolen every penny we had and more besides by obtaining 2 overdrafts on our joint account. Total taken £16,500 leaving two disabled ladies broke and £5000 in debt. Funeral expenses all gone. What can two oaps do in cases like this.
In March she pleaded guilty to 4 counts of fraud. The police had asked for reparations to be made. The court didn’t mention the money to be repaid.
We are still struggling with the debt. How can we recover some if not all of our money?

waamo

You need proper, professional legal advice for this sad situation. Unfortunately this falls well outside the scope of this forum.

TonyMMM

You might want to contact the court and check that an application was actually made, and if it was to confirm that it wasn't granted, but much would depend on her circumstances.

In reality - even if the court did make a compensation order, if she has spent what she took and has no money to pay then little or nothing will get recovered.

Might be worth considering if the bank was negligent in allowing her to carry out the fraud, you could try going through their complaints process..... that would probably depend on what she actually did and how.

JJ_Egan

Citizens Advice should point you in the right directions .

tacpot12

What have your niece's parents said about their daughter's behaviour? I would have thought they would have offered you some help.

Tiggi126

They have offered nothing.
Thank you all for your suggestions xx

waamo

Many solicitors do a free half hour. Look on this link to see if there is one near you https://www.lawworks.org.uk/legal-advice-individuals/find-legal-advice-clinic-near-you

couriervanman

+1 for contacting your bank depending how she applied for the overdrafts etc

kazwookie

Also make sure you change all passwords and pins numbers if you haven't already, and keep your ID's safe.

Nilrem

couriervanman wrote: »

+1 for contacting your bank depending how she applied for the overdrafts etc

Aye if she has been convicted of fraud then the bank should pretty much automatically write the debts off if they approved the applications.

Keep_pedalling

Nilrem wrote: »

Aye if she has been convicted of fraud then the bank should pretty much automatically write the debts off if they approved the applications.

Unlikely with the person carrying out the fraud living with the victim, where they could easily obtain access to all the info required to carry out the fraud.