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Woman targeted 81-year-old widow with dementia for her own financial gain

Posted on - 21st September, 2020 - 9:41pm | Author - | Posted in - Avenham, Crime, Lancashire Police, Preston News
Claire Neville

A woman who preyed on a vulnerable man with dementia has handed a three year Criminal Behaviour Order to protect the public.

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Claire Neville, 48, of no fixed address, persistently targeted the 81-year-old in his home in Avenham, after learning he had recently been widowed.

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Neville was issued with the CBO, along with a restraining order, after being convicted of harassment. The order lasts until July 30 2023.

Over several years, Neville befriended the victim and regularly visited him asking for money, for her own financial gain. Her crimes escalated over an eight-month period after Neville’s wife died.

Police worked tirelessly with the victim’s family after they discovered what was happening, to gather evidence and a criminal behaviour order was granted by Lancashire Magistrates Court against Claire Neville.

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While the CBO is in place, Claire Neville must comply with the following provisions:

  • Not ask people for money or goods or approach any person for that purpose in any public place or in any place which the public have access to, unless during the process of buying goods or services in retail premises.
  • Not instruct, encourage or permit any other person to approach any residential address within the county of Lancashire for the purposes of asking for goods or money.
  • Not be with or associate or communicate directly or indirectly with the victim.
  • Not to enter Bushell Place in Preston.
  • Not to loiter outside shops within the county of Lancashire without the intention of entering the shop to purchase goods or services
  • Not enter Preston train station or any surrounding land owned by the railway, including the train station car park, unless travelling by train.
  • Not to enter any supported living or sheltered accommodation facilities without prior permission from the housing provider, unless residing there as a permanent resident.
  • Positively engage with drug and alcohol services provided by INSPIRE.
  • Positively engage with support services, specifically housing services provided by Lancashire County Council.

Failure to comply with the above could result in a prison sentence.

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Sgt Dan Wood of Preston Police said: “This activity has been going on for some time with this particular man. We have worked closely with the victim’s family to ensure he is safeguarded but also it has taken time to build up evidence as a lot of this activity has been difficult to capture. 

“Operation Wolf is a multi-agency approach to tackling elderly exploitation.  Hopefully this CBO will act as a deterrent to those thinking of targeting vulnerable people.”

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Vicky Curteis, daughter of the victim said: “This has been a particularly distressing time for the family.

“My dad was vulnerable, yet this woman was very manipulative and continuously harassed him for money and he genuinely thought he was helping her and because of his dementia, he didn’t realise how often she kept coming to his front door.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to report any suspicions to the police straight away, keep notes of any unwanted visits and install CCTV if possible.

“Preston Neighbourhood Policing team were great with their advice and support.  If you want to help someone, do it through the proper channels and through a recognised charity not by giving anyone money at your front door or in the street.”

If you have any concerns that someone you know or a relative might be a victim, please report it by calling 101 or online quoting OPERATION WOLF in your report.

If you have any other information regarding elderly exploitation this can be sent by email to it through opwolf@lancashire.pnn.police.uk

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