Woman pleads guilty to high value fraud

A woman from Tarporley has admitted defrauding a 84-year-old pensioner out of more than £30,000.

Josie McLachlan appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 13 October where she pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

The 48-year-old, of High Street, Tarporley, has been released on bail and is set to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday 17 November.

McLachlan was a family member of the victim and had worked as a carer for her partner.

Following his death in 2022, she used the trust that she had built up to steal a large number of cheques. She then forged the victim’s signature and paid herself approximately £32,500 from the victim’s account.

She was caught after the victim noticed a number of suspicious transactions on her account.

The incident was reported to Cheshire Police in May 2023 and an investigation was launched by the Economic Crime Team.

McLachlan was quickly identified as the suspect and following her arrest she made a full admission to her offences.

Following today’s hearing, Detective Constable Gareth Yates, of the Cheshire Police Economic Crime Team, said:

“McLachlan was supposed to be caring for the victim’s partner. She was a trusted family member who had known the victim for more than 40 years.

“However, she abused this trust following the death of the victim’s partner. At a time when she should have been supporting the victim, she instead used her position for her own financial gain - forging more than 100 cheques to the value of £32,713.50 between February 2022 and May 2023.

“While I welcome the guilty plea entered by McLachlan, her crimes are likely to have a lasting impact on the victim, both financially and emotionally. Although I hope that McLachlan’s conviction will provide her with some closure."