A pensioner said she struggles to leave her own home after a friend swindled thousands of pounds from her. Gillian Poulton, 71, was a victim of fraud amounting to over £2,000 by Donna Garner. The 30-year-old, of Franklyn Road, Haywards Heath, was sentenced on Monday and ordered to pay back the money.
Gillian, who lives in Burgess Hill, said her mental health and wellbeing has been impacted by the ordeal. In a victim impact statement, she said: “I have suffered a considerable amount of stress throughout this ordeal. “My confidence is at an all time low and I am anxious and wary of others too.
“I keep blaming myself for being too kind and caring and not seeing any of it coming, when all I was guilty of was being a good friend who cared. “I have been taken advantage of and my trust has been broken by someone I considered a friend. “I want to stop anyone else from going through what I have endured.
” Gillian’s daughter, Dawn Thompson, said her mother had met Garner at a charity group she attended and befriended her. She reported that her mother had helped Garner out “quite a bit”, before Garner “took advantage of her” and spent over £2,000 of her money without her knowledge. Gillian said her confidence was at an 'all time low' (Image: Supplied) Dawn, 42, said: “I was able to go through it all and report it to the police.
“She has not shown any remorse. “My mum is devastated. She does not go out very much, she does not trust anybody.
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