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A fraudster who blew over £140,000 of her mum's money on designer clothes, holidays and fine-dining has been jailed. Lyndsey Newton, 62, had Power of Attorney and was in charge of her mother's finances while the pensioner was spending her final years in a care home in Barlaston, Staffordshire.

But Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard she plundered huge sums of cash from her mum's bank accounts - on some occasions she blew thousands of pounds in one day on high-end fashion. As funds dwindled - and before her mum passed away - Newton, of Chester, even looked for a cheaper care home to move her to.

Now, after being convicted by a jury last year of fraud by abuse of position, she has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Judge Richard McConaghy said the offence was so serious only an immediate jail sentence was appropriate, adding: "From 2015 to 2018 you held the Power of Attorney in respect of your mother's financial affairs.

"She was vulnerable and lived in residential care in Barlaston, living out her final years in an environment she found comforting.

"You had a responsibility to manage her financial affairs for her. You signed a legal document to that effect. You did not care about that. You only cared about yourself.

"You spent more than £100,000 of her money on clothes, furniture, holidays and regular meals out.

"There were shopping trips in which thousands of pounds of your mother's money was spent on high-end fashion brands in a single day.

"Not long before she passed away you started looking for a cheaper care home for her because her money was running low, money that was running out because you had spent it all.

"You maintained your denials. You claimed that your mother told you that you could spend her money. The jury disbelieved you.

"You upset your mother so much when she discovered what you had done that she stopped speaking to you. You abused her trust over a substantial period of time.

"Your victim was particularly vulnerable due to her age and health. It clearly had a serious detrimental impact on her."

Prosecutor Elizabeth Power said Newton took over her mother's finances in 2015 and the total amount of the fraud was £142,852.25.

After the care home resident raised concerns with the Barlaston care home staff, they immediately took action and informed social workers who alerted us to what had happened.

Newton denied that she didn't have explicit permission to spend the money. Bank statements showed she had spent the cash on home improvements, a holiday to America, shopping trips and meals out.

Our investigation revealed that money, totalling almost £143,000, was missing from the victim's account, which meant she were at risk of losing their place at the care home. Sadly, the victim died in 2019.

However, Staffordshire Police continued to pursue the case, and along with her prison term, a proceeds of crime hearing relating to Newton is due to take place in June this year.

Robert Holt, defending, said Newton accepts the decision of the jury. He said: "She is aged 62 and has not been in trouble prior to or since the offence between 2015 and 2018. It is very much out of character for her."

He argued there was scope for the defendant to receive a lengthy community order as an alternative to a prison sentence. Mr Holt added that the delay in the case coming to court was no fault of the defendant.

Speaking following sentencing, Detective Constable Jim Ward said: "This was a clear abuse of trust by Newton, who was adamant she was entitled to the money.

"She offered no explanation for her activities other than her belief she had consent, which the victim denied wholeheartedly.

"Sadly, the victim died before seeing the outcome of the case, but I hope it provides some closure for the wider family involved.

"Fraud has a devastating impact on victims, destroys livelihoods and severely affects relationships.

"I am glad Newton was handed a custodial sentence for her offending and hope the case demonstrates how we will continue to do all we can to support vulnerable victims and bring those responsible before the courts."