Southampton fraudster 'wiped out savings' of elderly neighbour

Karl Dowling, 63, stole £3,580 from his disabled victim over a period of months to pay off a drug debt after she began struggling with her mobility and asked for help, a court heard.

She entrusted Dowling, of Rozel Court, Southampton, with her card to buy her shopping at Sainsbury’s.

But while doing this, he would visit an ATM, withdrawing up to £500 at a time until he emptied her savings account.

Prosecutor Keely Harvey said the woman didn’t initially want Dowling to know her pin number and that she told him to use contactless.

But Dowling encouraged his victim to tell him it so that he could “carry out the plan”, Recorder Clive Dow said.

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Dowling’s deceit was only discovered in August of 2022 when the woman tried to make a payment on her card.

The payment was declined due to a lack of funds in her account.

The incident was reported to the police and Dowling was arrested and questioned where he admitted to stealing the money.

He told officers that he had taken the money in order to pay a drug debt.

He was given a conditional caution and ordered to pay back the money he had taken.

But after around six months, it was discovered he had not paid her back a penny - so he was brought to court.

Dowling, who has 21 convictions for 59 previous offences, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at at Southampton Magistrates' Court.

Southampton Crown Court

Speaking at his sentencing at Southampton Crown Court on Wednesday, Ms Harvey said the victim had “serious mobility issues” and lives in a facility that allows assisted living.

She said: “It is in breach of a high degree of trust. He effectively wiped out all of the savings of a vulnerable lady."

Recorder Dow added that on the surface of it, Dowling’s actions had been a “kind gesture” but that he went on to “systematically and cynically” defraud his neighbour.

He said: “This was an abuse of a position of trust. She trusted you with the keys to her account.

“Your offending has had a high impact on your victim both because of her age, disabilities and circumstances.”

Dowling was given a 10-month sentence suspended for 18 months.

He must complete 20 rehabilitation days and pay £3,580 in compensation.

Mitigating, Jamie Gammon added that his client is remorseful and is a man of “limited means”, having been receiving housing benefit.

He said he has various health problems and hasn’t been able to manage his affairs.

“He wants to pay it back but has struggled I think without the compulsion to do that," he added.

Compensation was ordered to be paid at a rate of £250 a month.

Dowling must also pay a £187 surcharge as well.