Lauren Margaret Page sentenced to three years jail for defrauding her grandma

A Queensland woman has been jailed for defrauding more than $80,000 of her “vulnerable” grandmother’s life savings – allegedly influenced by her own mother.

A Queensland woman has been jailed for defrauding over $80,000 of her “vulnerable” grandmother’s life savings. File picture

A Queensland woman has been jailed for defrauding over $80,000 of her “vulnerable” grandmother’s life savings – allegedly influenced by her own mother, who is charged with defrauding the same woman over $100,000.

Lauren Margaret Page, 29, pleaded guilty at Brisbane District Court on Thursday to fraud over $30,000 (DV). The court heard Page had defrauded her grandmother of $83,146 over an eight-month period in 2021. Judge Brad Farr SC said it was alleged Page had been influenced by her mother Belinda Maree Ready, who is charged as a co-accused with defrauding the grandmother of over $100,000.

Ms Ready’s matter is still progressing and she has not entered a plea.

Judge Farr said Page’s grandmother had been in her 70s at the time and was receiving pension payments to a bank account, but didn’t understand how to use mobile banking. The court heard Page had transferred money from her grandmother’s account over 144 transactions and had used the money for general purchases, online game purchases, and transactions to others. Judge Farr said Page had been abusing the prescription drug benzodiazepine along with methamphetamine at the time.

He acknowledged she had stopped the offending of her own volition and had been remorseful.

Page had since severed contact with her mother and taken steps towards drug rehabilitation, the court heard. Judge Farr said despite Ms Ready’s alleged involvement, it did not “absolve (Page) of criminal responsibility”.

He said Page’s offending had been a “gross breach of trust” against her “vulnerable” grandmother. Judge Far labelled it an “offence of greed,” saying Page had taken “no doubt part of (her) grandmother’s life savings” out of a desire for personal gain.

Judge Farr said Page had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2015 but now had the support of other family members and employment. The grandmother had also been financially supported by other family after the offending was uncovered, he said.

Judge Farr said Page’s behaviour was “very serious” however, and ruled that she should spend part of her sentence in actual custody. He sentenced Page to three years and six months jail, with parole eligibility on December 31, 2025.