‘Greedy’ cleaner jailed for stealing £40 from ‘vulnerable’ 92-year-old

Alison Lavell, of Alexandra Street, Padgate appeared in Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday morning after pleading guilty to two counts of theft.

Lavell was sentenced after pleading guilty to two charges of theft, with the particulars of each count she was convicted on stating that the amount stolen was £20 each, so £40 in total.

The court heard that the 59-year-old had been employed as a cleaner by the victim, who was a 92-year-old woman, in 2018.

The victim also employed carers due to her age and needs and paid each of them in cash.

Lavell was receiving £30 a week as a cleaner at the home, which is in Warrington.

In 2021, however, the victim noticed that around £350 had gone missing and, due to having employed a new team of carers, suspected they stole it.

Prosecuting, Oliver Saddington told the court that the money being given to each employee was instead placed in named brown envelopes.

However, the victim’s son noticed that these were then being replaced with nameless ones and, in December 2023, he decided to install cameras in his mother’s home.

On Boxing Day, he placed £40 into his mother’s purse in her handbag in sight of the camera.

The court heard that footage captured on these cameras showed Lavell going into the victim’s bag on January 2 and removing £20 from it.

Then, on January 9, Lavell again went into the victim’s bag and took a further £20 from it.

In a police interview, Lavell first responded with no comment, but then went on to deny that she took any money and that she had been given permission to go into the bag by the victim. She then pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court heard that it was only on the first day of her trial, and the prosecution had enhanced the video footage, that Lavell changed her plea to guilty.

'I thought she was a friend'

An impact statement read to the court said the victim has been left feeling as if her trust has been broken.

“As a result of the incident, I have been feeling vulnerable with other people,” the statement read.

“I have been upset as I thought she was a friend, and it doesn’t feel nice being lied to by someone you trust.”

It was also heard that Lavell used to take the victim to doctor’s appointments and to pick up prescriptions.

Cameras are now also permanently in the victim’s home as a result of the theft.

Defending, Helen Chenery told the court that Lavell feels remorse for her actions.

“She can’t give an explanation as to why she took it,” said Ms Chenery.

“She didn’t need the money. She’s deeply ashamed. She doesn’t want to lie and create a reason as to why she took money from this 92-year-old lady.”

The court heard that the 59-year-old grandmother-of-four has no previous convictions and was willing to complete unpaid work and rehabilitation activity days for her sentence.

Two references by other former employers were given to Judge David Swinnerton as mitigation, as well as the fact that Lavell has caring responsibilities for her mother and four grandchildren.

'The court needs to protect vulnerable people'

However, during his sentencing remarks, Judge Swinnerton described Lavell’s actions as ‘greedy’ and remarked the footage as showing her ‘helping herself’ to the contents of the handbag.

“She is 92 and you were employed by her as a cleaner, but it went deeper than that,” said Judge Swinnerton.

“She recognised you as a friend. Someone she trusted.

“You abused a vulnerable old woman who trusted you, out of sheer greed.”

Judge Swinnerton also remarked that while Lavell was deemed of no risk to the public in a pre-sentence report, that she was a ‘risk to those she was in the home of’.

“The court needs to protect vulnerable people,” said Judge Swinnerton.

“Sometimes that’s children, sometimes that’s elderly people.”

Lavell hung her head as she was sentenced to nine months immediate imprisonment for each count of theft, which will be served concurrently, and sobbed as she made her way to the cells.