A Dundee woman spared prison after wiping out her mother’s £6,000 savings in a single month to feed her gambling addiction has not completed her unpaid work order.
In 2020, Lynne Cree was told she only avoided a period in custody for the callous theft so she could keep looking after her grandchildren.
Dundee Sheriff Court has now heard she has only paid back around a third of what she stole from 82-year-old Daisy Cree and has not finished her unpaid work or met with criminal justice support workers.
She appeared before Sheriff John Rafferty once again to explain her actions.
Defence solicitor Ian Houston, on her behalf, said she had been struggling with mental health issues.
He said: “The reason for the breach of the community payback order was because of mental health issues.
“She is in the hands of her GP.
“Her finances are extremely limited.
“She has repaid around £2,000 but her mother, in a forgiving mood, says she doesn’t want more.”
Sheriff Rafferty said: “She was extremely lucky not to receive a custodial sentence last time.
“There is no medical evidence (regarding her mental health stopping her from complying with the order).
“She has not done her unpaid work, she has not attended with her supervisor, blaming poor mental health without evidence has very little weight.”
Sheriff Rafferty further deferred sentence for three weeks, to allow Cree, 51, of Roseburn Gardens, to visit her GP for a report proving she was unfit to carry out her work order between July 2021 and February this year, as well as any future order.
Chased gambling debts
The court heard Cree had been given the PIN for a bank card so she could help with her frail mother’s shopping.
She took the card and began helping herself to cash from machines around the city while her mother spent a period in hospital.
The court was told that on Christmas Eve the account contained £5,342 but by the time the theft came to light about a month later, only £80 was left.
Daisy Cree checked her savings on January 30 2018.
Depute fiscal Christine Allan said at the time: “She was shocked when she was told by bank staff and began crying and had to be aided by a member of staff.
“During an interview the accused freely stated she had taken the Post Office card around the end of December 2017.
“She was aware of the PIN, having previously done shopping for the complainer.
“The accused stated she had withdrawn several thousand pounds from various ATMs across Dundee over the following month.
“She was extremely tearful during interview and advised that as a result of spiralling gambling debts she had stolen the money out of desperation.”
The court was told that Cree was remorseful for what she had done and had taken steps to give up gambling completely.
“I was thinking I would win it back but it just got further and further,” she told police.
