A DISABLED 70-year-old woman, who fleeced more than £32,000 of her vulnerable brother's pension money, has been jailed.

Joan Gillhespey, who uses a walking frame, was allowed to remain seated in the dock as she was sentenced to eight months imprisonment at Bradford Crown Court.

She was told by the judge, Recorder Kate Tulk, that what she had done to her brother was "utterly unforgivable".

Gillhespey, who pleaded guilty to one charge of fraud by abuse of position between December 1, 2005 and April 30, 2013, showed no emotion as she was sentenced today.

Prosecutor Mehran Nasiri said that her younger brother, Paul Thompson, had learning difficulties and epilepsy, but had worked for the majority of his life and had a private pension.

Mr Thompson took early retirement due to ill health, but in October 2005 Gillhespey contacted his pension company, claiming to be writing on his behalf and asking for an early payment. Some letters from the defendant to the pension company contained Mr Thompson's signature.

But Mr Nasiri said the complainant did not recall signing anything and did not realise he was entitled to the pension.

Two months later the company received an options form from the defendant, requesting a tax free lump sum.

Mr Nasiri said a cheque for £12,178 was sent to the defendant in Mr Thompson's name but he never received it or knew of its existence.

Regular monthly payments of at least £275 were made until April 2013 into a joint bank account in the name of the defendant and the complainant. Mr Thompson was unaware of the account.

The offences came to light in 2013 when Mr Thompson's housing benefits were frozen because he had not declared the pension.

Gillhespey, of The Oval, Gilstead, Bingley, stole a total of £32,297 from her brother.

Her solicitor advocate, Nigel Jamieson, said his client could not explain why she she did it. She did not have a lavish lifestyle and had simply not struggled financially as much as she might have.

Mr Jamieson said the prison authorities could cope with her disability, but her infirmity was troubling. She was not a danger to society.

Recorder Tulk said it was aggravating that her brother was the victim. The fact he had learning difficulties made it worse.

She told Gillhespey: "He was not just your little brother, he was a particularly vulnerable little brother."

Recorder Tulk said the defendant had deliberately targeted her brother. She had abused his trust over a sustained period of time.

The judge said Gillhespey was a 70-year-old widow who had never offended before but she said there had to be a deterrent to others who might be tempted to do the same.

She made a confiscation order for the defendant's realisable assets of £9,500 to be paid to the complainant.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Paul Stead, of the Bradford District Safeguarding Unit, said: "Gillhespey was supposed to care for her brother and help with his finances, but she took advantage of his lack of financial capacity to claim and spend his pension like it was her own.

"This was a shocking abuse of trust and we hope the sentence she has received will be of some comfort to him.

"The Bradford District Safeguarding Unit is committed to protecting vulnerable people, and those who are found to have committed crimes against them will be dealt with at court.”