Carer jailed after conning Rickmansworth couple out of £32k

Joanne Rentle, 43, of Stretcher Drive in Berkshire, gained their complete trust while working for them as a private carer across a 13-month period.

Starting in April 2018, she set about removing cash, spending their money and stealing food from the house.

She manipulated the couple - who had been married for 63 years - and turned them against their own family to keep her secret, creating worry, anger and confusion in their final years.

The fraudster removed all the food from the home's freezer and switched it off, an act described by the judge as “the most disdainful piece of evidence he has had to listen to”.

They also remarked that Rentle's behaviour was a “gross breach of trust from the outset”.

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She was brought to justice following a two-year investigation by the Adult At Risk Investigation Team (AARIT), which led to Rentle being charged with two counts of fraud by false representation.

On January 17, she was handed a sentence of four years and three months' prison, being required to serve at least two years before being considered for release.

Both victims passed away before seeing their abuser face consequences.

Detective Constable Sarah Hopkins, from the AARIT, said: “Sadly, the victims of this callous crime were not able to see justice being done, however I hope that this sentencing will help give closure to the family.

“I also want to take this opportunity to commend now retired Detective Constable Eleanor Hancock-Denniss, who led this investigation. Her brilliant work led to the imprisonment of Rentle.”

Police have advised anyone who feels they may have been a victim of similar fraud to report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040.

Information on crimes of this or any other nature can be reported to Herts Police by calling 101 or visiting herts.police.uk/report.