Conwoman lived high life on elderly victim’s savings

A serial conwoman who ripped off elderly people of hundreds of thousands of dollars claimed it she did it to help feed her kids, but this party girl was instead living the high life.

Sarah Carpenter wrote “cash cow” next to her victim’s bank account documents.

A serial conwoman who swindled an elderly woman out of more than $117,000 and stole more than 30 different identities claimed she did it to put food on the table for her two children — despite splashing the cash on cruises, cars and ice.

Sarah Carpenter, also known as Olivia Lowe, wept in court after admitting to a litany of deception and fraud offences which she committed while on bail and serving a community corrections order for almost identical offending.

The daughter of one of her elderly victims said the callous offending robbed her mother of a happy retirement and caused her extreme emotional stress.

Carpenter withdrew more than $117,000 from two bank accounts belonging to 73-year-old Conchita Jowett as well as shares worth about $265,000 — of which she pocketed almost $60,000.

Sarah Carpenter, who is also known as Olivia Lowe.

She did so by stealing the elderly woman’s mail.

Ms Jowett did not live to see Carpenter sentenced, passing away in June.

“When she discovered the (missing funds) her health began to deteriorate rapidly,” her daughter said.

The court heard Carpenter had written “cash cow” next to Ms Jowett’s bank account documents which were found in a police raid of her home.

Carpenter had amassed more than 15 drivers’ licences, bank cards, working with children’s checks and even a fishing licence by stealing her victims’ mail.

Forensic psychologist Carla Ferrari told the court Carpenter claimed she was using $2000 worth of ice and cannabis per week and her offending was motivated by “financial hardship”.

“She said she wanted to provide a good life for her children,” Ms Ferrari said.

Ms Ferrari said her offending was aggravated by her “perpetual substance abuse”.

Carpenter had told her the idea to steal mail and identities was first raised by her drug dealer, Ms Ferrari said.

But Judge Carolene Gwynn dismissed this, saying: “I don’t accept her drug dealer made her do it,

“This is highly sophisticated offending,” Judge Gwynn said.

The judge described Carpenter’s offending as “highly sophisticated”.

“It is not the behaviour of someone who is using that amount of drugs,” she said.

During her crime spree which lasted more than three years, the mother-of-two set up phony bank accounts and applied for five AMEX credit cards using the stolen identities — including that of an 84-year-old woman.

Despite police arresting her in March 2017, she continued her scams while on bail until she was hauled back behind bars a year later.

In total, the greedy fraudster netted more than $430,000 in stolen funds of which she withdrew almost $200,000.

Descriptions of bank transfers included “Cruise deposit”, “holiday” and “car deposit”.

Some of the money has since been recovered.

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The court heard Carpenter had used her ex-partner’s as well as her current partner’s ex-wife’s identity in her prior offending.

A tearful Carpenter said the offending “made her sick”.

The defence argued she had shown remorse in her early guilty plea and a community corrections order should be considered.

Judge Gwynn said the offending was “far too serious” for that and she was looking at a jail sentence.

Carpenter has spent 509 days behind bars on remand.

She will be sentenced at a later date.

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