Lara Anne Faith Worth: Woman sentenced for receiving more than $20k from sick grandmother

A Warwick woman who received more than $20,000 of money over a year, stolen from her own sick grandmother, has been sentenced in Warwick District Court. Read the reaction from Court.

A Warwick woman charged with receiving more than $20,000 stolen from her sick grandmother has faced a judge in Warwick District Court on Wednesday.

Lara Anne Faith Worth pleaded guilty to receiving tainted property with circumstance of aggravation when an investigation revealed she had received about $22,000 between 2018 -2019.

The 31-year-old mother of one had received the money in instalments, sometimes of $1000 at a time, transferred by her own mother.

Crown prosecutor Catherine Birkett told the court Worth’s grandmother became sick prior to the offending spree and was unable to deal with her own financial needs, which Worth’s mother allegedly took advantage of by siphoning money directly into Worth’s account.

The grandmother, who was 88 and 89 years old at the time of offending, had become unwell and gave the accused and her mother financial management through power of attorney in 2017.

In early 2018, the grandmother had a stroke and began experiencing the onset of dementia, and in turn, the power of attorney came into effect.

Lara Ann Faith Worth pleaded guilty at Warwick District Court on Wednesday (Photo: Warwick Daily News)

Worth’s mother was the only person who had access to the victim’s bank account.

“She knew her mother had a very limited income,” Ms Birkett told the court.

During the police investigation it was revealed she had received her grandmother’s money which police allege came directly through her own mother.

When Worth was interviewed by police, she lied and denied any money had been transferred into her account, and then when interviewed a second time, she claimed she did get some money but only a small amount.

When charges were laid, Worth was stripped of her blue card and her job.

Worth’s defence lawyer, Jessica Goldie, asked the court during sentencing to not record a conviction, as it could affect her employment as an aged care nurse.

Judge Craig Chowdhury told Worth during sentencing that there was “no suggestion you were living a lavish lifestyle that you see in cases like this, the money was used to pay day-to-day expenses”.

Judge Chowdhury noted that “raising children is difficult at the best of times,” and all of the purchases made by Worth were to pay bills, or for her child or other mundane household purchases.

Worth broke down in tears following the verdict, but was spared jail time.

She was sentenced to two years probation, with no convictions recorded.

The woman’s mother who allegedly was transferring the money will face court at a later date.