A woman working as an estate agent in Rye, who defrauded an elderly client out of £160,000, has been sentenced.
Her victim, Joan Cannon, 82, from St Leonards, had been in court to see Elizabeth Smith admit the offence earlier this year, but died soon afterwards.
Smith, now 52, previously of Winchelsea Beach but now of Wilton Road, Bexhill, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court on Tuesday, November 2.
She pleaded guilty on August 11to fraud by abuse of position between 2018 and 2019, by defrauding Joan of £160,000 which Joan had given her to help complete purchase of a property. Smith instead kept the money and spent it on herself, including on expensive holidays and a new car.
Smith had been trading as Waves Estates in Cinque Ports Street, Rye. She was handed a five-year prison sentence.
Detective Sergeant Mitchell Humby said:
"This was a heartless fraud on an elderly and vulnerable person. It only came to light when the victim became suspicious of the transactions passing though her account and the person from whom she was buying the property became concerned as to why she wasn't receiving the money in payment.
"The trial was then delayed for court scheduling COVID-related reasons but the victim followed the case, so she eventually saw Smith admit her guilt and be remanded in custody to await sentencing. However, tragically Joan died only a few days later."
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