Carer who stole £20,000 from disabled woman she looked after jailed

15 March 2024 , 13:55

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Petula Hatzer was employed by Alison's family to care for Alison who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and dystonia and who is non-verbal (Image: MEN MEDIA)

A carer who stole £20,000 from a disabled woman who she looked after has been jailed.

Petula Hatzer, 55, opened up several credit card and catalogue accounts in Alison Hague's name - who she looked after for 17 years. She was employed by Alison's family to care for Alison who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and dystonia and who is non-verbal. Minshull Street Crown Court heard how in October 2020, a report was made to police by another one of Alison's carers. They expressed concern that Hatzer had been opening credit card and catalogue accounts in the victim's name for several years. Following the report made to police, a number of photographs and letters were passed to detectives for them to start their investigation.

This uncovered that ten accounts were opened in Alison's name - but because she has no capacity to open an account, then it must have been done by another person. Hatzer also accessed an existing bank account that was intended solely for the victim's daily needs including food and clothing. She was arrested at her home address in Manchester in 2021 and a number of credit cards and letters were seized from her home for further analysis. When interviewed under caution by police, Hatzer admitted to opening accounts in the victim's name and using them for her own personal gain.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard how in October 2020, a report was made to police by another one of Alison's carers (MEN MEDIA)

As the investigation progressed more evidence came to light and Hatzer was interviewed under caution again, but this time replied with no comment. After pleading guilty to ten counts of fraud by false representation and one count of fraud by abuse of position, she was sentenced to one year and one month in jail on Wednesday (March 13).

Detective constable Emma Maders has described the crime as 'very upsetting' and said Alison's family have been left 'devastated.' She said: "This is a very upsetting and devastating crime that had led to a particularly vulnerable victim being taking advantage of in her own home. Hatzer was in a position of trust where she was expected to safeguard and act in the best interests of the victim.

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"Instead of doing this, for a number of years, she was using her identity to open various accounts using the personal details and identity of the victim for her own financial gain. Furthermore, Hatzer also accessed an existing bank account containing the victim's money, which was intended to be used solely for the victims' daily needs, such as food and clothing.

"By doing so Hatzer deprived the victim of this money and took it for herself. The victim was dependent on Hatzer and she was trusted to provide a good standard of care. When the crimes were identified, the family were left devastated by her deceit, as Hatzer was someone they treated as part of the family."

Lucy Skoulding