Daughter drained KSh 36 million from her mother to pamper her two pet dogs

A care worker who stole over 36 million Kenyan shillings (£216,000) from her elderly mother suffering from Alzheimer’s disease has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Luana Dougherty, 50, used her position as her mother’s caregiver to access Margaret Trimmer’s bank account and drain her life savings. The money was used to fund a lavish lifestyle, including pampering her two pet dogs and setting up a dog breeding business.   

Dougherty’s crime was discovered after she boasted to her son about plans to purchase a house with a deposit of over 10 million Kenyan shillings (£60,000). Concerned family members contacted Trimmer’s bank, leading to an investigation.

Despite receiving a share of over 21 million Kenyan shillings (£125,000) from the sale of their family home, Dougherty continued to exploit her mother’s vulnerability. She downloaded a banking app onto her phone and made regular withdrawals of thousands of pounds. Over a four-day period, she transferred over 20 million Kenyan shillings (£20,000) per day into her own account. 

The thefts left Trimmer with just over 1 million Kenyan shillings (£10,000) in her account. Her daughter, Sandra Clayton, described the incident as a “betrayal” that caused Trimmer “anxiety and distress.”

In a statement to the court, Clayton said, “We trusted Luana to care for our mother, but she betrayed that trust. She used her position to steal from a vulnerable person.”

Dougherty pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position at Chester Crown Court. The judge, Mr. Richard Conley, sentenced her to four years in prison, criticizing her “uncaring and callous” attitude.   

The incident highlights the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from financial exploitation. Caregivers must be held accountable for any misuse of their position of trust.