Carer defrauded disabled woman of thousands, court told

A carer defrauded a 56-year-old intellectually disabled woman of more than $9000 because of a methamphetamine habit, a court in Geraldton has been told.

Kate Marie Williams, 23, pleaded guilty in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court earlier this month to 27 counts of gaining benefit by fraud and six counts of attempting to gain benefit by fraud.

The court heard the single mother-of-two, who became the woman’s carer when Williams’ mother died of cancer, had used her position to update the woman’s bank account details with her own phone number.

She then made cardless cash withdrawals and internet banking transfers totalling $9350 over a four-week period between February and March this year.

She also tried unsuccessfully to withdraw a further $800 from the account.

Ms Williams sobbed throughout the proceedings.

Lawyer George Giudice, arguing against a jail sentence, said Williams found it difficult to cope after the death of her mother, and having to become the intellectually disabled woman’s primary carer while caring for her own children, aged four years and 16 months.

“In an interview with police, she said the victim was like family to her. She grew up with this person,” Mr Giudice said.

“But when her mum died and she started caring for her it became harder than she thought and she began to take drugs, sometimes two or three times a day.

“She didn’t know where to get help. Her mum had gone and all she had was the dealer.”

Mr Giudice said Williams was left with a “substantial” drug debt and suffered anxiety because of break-ins at her house, intoxicated or drug-affected people banging on her windows, and a four-year-old child who “runs wild” and “refuses to sleep”.

He said she wanted to move away from Geraldton because people involved in drug trafficking were pestering her to get involved again and it was causing her a lot of stress.

Mr Giudice said Williams had inherited a house after her mother’s death and was willing to make full restitution.

The police prosecutor, arguing for a jail term, said while it was difficult for anyone to lose a mother, others who suffered such loss did not then defraud a person classed as a member of their family.

Magistrate Martin Flynn said jail was the only possible outcome because of the seriousness of the offence, because of the vulnerability of the victim, the large amount of money involved and the period in which she had taken advantage of the victim.

But he said a suspended sentence was justified because of Williams’ age, her guilty plea, she had co-operated with police, had two children and had taken steps to try to deal with her drug addiction.

Mr Flynn imposed an eight-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, but warned Williams if she appeared before court again she could not expect any leniency.

He also ordered she make full restitution to the victim and undergo an intensive supervision order.