Nine Years for ‘Merciless Fraudster’- Robert Stevenson Prosecutes

29th June 2017 Park Square Barristers

Following a six-day trial, prosecuted by Robert Stevenson, Julie Sayles was convicted of all eight counts which she faced, including fraud by abuse of position, making an article for use in fraud and converting criminal property.

The judge, Recorder Anthony Kelbrick, labelled her ‘a merciless fraudster’ and sentenced her to nine years imprisonment.

Edith Negus was 102 years of age when she died and she left behind many family members who held her in very close affection.

She had been a very frugal lady throughout her life; she owned her own home and had amassed savings in excess of £1/4m.

During the last two years before her death, she received regular visits from the defendant, Julie Sayles, who worked for Friends of the Elderly, a charitable organisation supposed to provide a free service to help the elderly.

As Edith’s physical and mental health deteriorated during her last year, the defendant took more than £1/4m from Edith’s savings and wrote herself into Edith’s will.

The defendant set up a joint account for Edith and herself and caused Edith to put large sums of money into it, which the defendant was able to then transfer into her own account and use for herself; she bought two houses with the money.

Not satisfied with having taken almost £300,000, the defendant then wrote a new will for Edith in which the majority of the remaining assets, including Edith’s home, were to be left to the defendant.

Robert Stevenson acts for the prosecution or defence in all types of criminal proceeding.