A shocking case of betrayal in the care sector has left a family devastated after a carer stole tens of thousands of pounds from the wife of a bedridden pensioner.
Danielle Houghton, 32, from Lancaster, Lancashire, has been sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison after admitting theft and fraud by false representation at Preston Crown Court last Friday.
Vulnerable Victim Left Haunted
The victim, a 91-year-old woman with dementia, tragically passed away before seeing justice served.
Heartbreakingly, she repeatedly told her children, “Something bad has been done to me, but I cannot remember what it is,” reflecting the deep anxiety she carried during her final months.
Her husband also passed away during the investigation, compounding the family’s grief.
The Theft and Spending Spree
Houghton was employed to care for the woman’s 92-year-old, bed-bound husband.
In November 2023, she stole the woman’s bank card and, over the course of less than three months, withdrew £7,700 in cash.
She spent an additional £2,073.14 on tanning sessions, gambling sites, Netflix and Amazon Prime subscriptions, Sports Direct, KFC, petrol, cigarettes, alcohol, and general shopping.
CCTV footage captured Houghton casually picking up snacks, shopping at Sports Direct, and emerging from stores with her illicit purchases, seemingly undeterred as the spree continued.
She even attempted to withdraw another £800 from the card.
Children Discover the Crime
It wasn’t until the victim’s children noticed multiple suspicious transactions that the police were called in.
Sadly, both parents passed away before Houghton faced justice.
In a victim impact statement, the family described the emotional toll: the mother was “haunted by a distress she could not resolve,” unable to enjoy the calm of her home in her final months.
Her daughter added, “Sadly, Mum didn’t live to know that the person who defrauded her of almost £10,000 eventually met justice.
She died knowing she couldn’t trust those coming into her home to care for her husband.”
Police Condemn the Actions
DC Peter Bennett from Lancaster Criminal Investigation Department described Houghton’s conduct as “selfish” and “despicable.”
He welcomed the prison sentence, noting that it sends a clear message to others tempted to commit similar crimes.
He highlighted the additional suffering caused to the family, whose parents died without knowing that justice had been served.
A Warning to the Care Sector
This case has cast a shadow over care providers, a sector already under pressure.
Houghton’s actions not only caused financial loss but also deep emotional harm, underscoring the importance of vigilance and accountability in elder care.