Catherine Alice Moore sentenced for defrauding senior citizen

A Townsville woman has learnt her fate after fleecing a 78-year old of his life savings, leaving the kind, friendly man a recluse in his own home.

Catherine Alice Moore has been sentenced for fraud at Townsville Magistrates Court. Picture: Shae Beplate.

A Townsville woman who conned a trusting elderly man out of more than $55,000 had acted with ‘callousness that was breathtaking’, declared the Chief Magistrate.

Catherine Alice Moore, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud with a value of over $30,000, in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that Moore had been a casual employee of a man who was 78 years old when the offences occurred, between October and December 2016.

Moore told the man that she was owed $32,000 and needed the money and he agreed to help her, and in total she stole $58,290, emptying his bank account in less than three months.

“You fabricated stories, got his card and cleaned him out,” said Chief Magistrate Ross Mack, looking directly at Moore.

“Then when you heard he had another account you went to the bank with him to have a crack at that, then when he discovered that you had fleeced him, you just go.

“The callousness of this is breathtaking.”

Magistrate Mack was given a psychiatric report on Moore, and he said it described her in part as being ‘hyperbolic’ (given to extravagant exaggeration).

He said there had been many delays with the case and that at times Moore had prevaricated, and throughout it she had shown little remorse for her actions.

Mr Mack said Moore had made no real attempt to repay any of the stolen funds.

He read sections of a letter from the daughter of the victim, who is now 84 years old.

“It is clear you took advantage of his kindness and this letter explains how he used to be friendly and trusting of people,” he said.

“This has all had a detrimental effect on the victim, who is now very distrusting of people and a near recluse in his own home.”

Moore, who had no previous criminal history, was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.

Originally published as Catherine Alice Moore sentenced for defrauding senior citizen