A BLIND and disabled pensioner had money stolen from her bank account by the daughter-in-law she paid to look after her.

The victim, Hazel Goodall, 84, from High Valleyfield, is registered blind, in a wheelchair and hard of hearing.

Her daughter-in-law, Mary Goodall, 58, of Dunimarle Street, High Valleyfield, had denied that between August 6, 2014, and December 19, 2016, she stole a quantity of cash belonging to Hazel Goodall.

After a trial at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, she was found guilty.

Hazel Goodall told the court: “I thought everything was fine. It just went all wrong that Christmas time. I never thought there was any money going missing but I was left with nothing.

“If they had needed money they could have asked and they would have got it.”

The trial heard her daughter-in-law received £100 a week for looking after her. She also was given the pensioner’s bank card to pay for her weekly shopping. However, money was also being taken out for payments she knew nothing about.

The OAP became suspicious when told there was no money in her bank to pay for Christmas presents.

She had told the accused at that time: “I don’t think you’re telling me what’s going on here.”

She then told her daughter and they went to the bank where it was found that Hazel Goodall’s account was almost empty.

The 84-year-old then had to go through bank statements with family members trying to identify the withdrawals and payments she knew about.

The witness said she and a friend had gone on a holiday in Corfu which she thought was being paid for by her daughter-in-law. It turned out the money came out of the pensioner’s account.

There were also payments for a coffee machine, golfing equipment and Netflix account but Hazel Goodall said she did not even know what the latter was.

She added: “There was seemingly also a pair of furry handcuffs I had paid for. So somebody was having a good time but it wasn’t me.”

The court heard the witness had paid £5,000 towards a grand-daughter’s wedding and gave her son £2,000 to have his car repaired. She was fully aware of these payments.

The witness told the court: “I like to be good to them but I’m not a stupid woman. I feel stupid sitting here today because I feel they’re taking every last bit of my energy.”

Mrs Goodall said she was not aware of money being withdrawn via ATMs when she was in Corfu. “I’ve never used one of those machines. I wouldn’t know how to.”

The victim’s daughter, Alison Anderson, 59, told the court of the effect the theft had on her mum when it came to light.

“When we were in the bank she was in shock. She couldn’t believe the amount of money that had been taken. She was on her hands and knees that night being physically sick.”

Asked by depute fiscal Dev Kapadia if any money had been repaid, Mrs Anderson said: “Not a penny. There’s not even been an apology. I don’t go near them.”

In his closing speech, Mr Kapadia conceded a figure could not be given for the money stolen.

Sheriff Craig McSherry said it seemed clear that there were unauthorised withdrawals from Mrs Goodall’s account, such as the money taken from ATMs in Corfu.

He found Mary Goodall guilty. He fined her £750 and ordered her to pay £750 compensation.