This is the moment a fraudster who spent £2,300 on a card stolen from an elderly woman is found hiding in a kitchen cupboard. Siobhan Perry's mother Kathlene Perry, 61, swiped the card from a woman in her 90s while pretending to be her carer.
They then went on a spending spree buying clothes from JD Sports, food from Burger King as well as cigarettes and vapes - eventually racking up a bill of over £2,000. After the pensioner's family raised concerns, Kent Police launched an investigation which uncovered the mother and daughter's expensive splurge.
Kathlene was then arrested at her home address in Maidstone, Kent, on November 15 last year and she was later charged with 14 offences of fraud, burglary and a breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order. The order was enforced in April 2024 which prevented her from using a bank card that wasn't in her name for cash withdrawals and purchases.
In footage released by the police, officers can be seen inside a home on November 24 to arrest Siobhan. One of the officers then opens a cupboard where the 43-year-old was hiding after she wedged herself into the tight space. 'Siobhan! Out you come,' said the police officer before arresting her on suspicion of fraud.
The force were able to track their activities by trawling through CCTV which showed Siobhan and Kathlene buying tracksuits in JD Sports as well as cigarettes and vapes and also attempting to take money out at an ATM. The investigation also found that the bank card had been used by the pair multiple times in the days before the card was reported stolen.
Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on May 29. Kathlene was jailed for three years and three months and Siobhan was handed nine months behind bars.
Detective Sergeant Matt Lynch said: 'We take all reports of crime seriously, particularly where the victim has been targeted because they are very vulnerable. This mother and daughter are serial offenders and officers were quick to identify them as suspects. Hours' worth of CCTV footage was examined to piece together the extent of their crimes and the pair were tracked down and arrested.'
'These two women have no regard for who they hurt and only focus on what they can steal. In this case, they used money that a pensioner could not afford to lose on fast food and cigarettes. They should be thoroughly ashamed of their actions.'
