‘He’s the scum of the earth’: Nephew scammed his dying aunt out of her life savings while pretending to care for her
Daniel Money blasted by his own family for betraying trusting cancer patient Gillian Kirk, 74, who thought of him as 'the son she never had'
A LOWLIFE thief has been branded the "scum of the earth" by his own family after fleecing his dying great aunt out of her life savings.
Daniel Money, 24, got close to Gillian Kirk after she was diagnosed with cancer - and she even paid him £100 a week to visit her.
In return, he would take her shopping and for rides in the car, but also helped himself to £16,000 from her bank account.
Money also bought himself a BMW using £17,750 in finance on his 74-year-old great-aunt's account and tried to get a second flash motor before he was rumbled.
Retired air hostess Mrs Kirk, who described her great-nephew as the "son she never had", died just three months after the betrayal was uncovered in March 2014.
Mrs Kirk's family said after Money was jailed: "We were absolutely devastated and Gillian just went downhill after that.
"She went from being a jolly lady to a very unhappy woman. He did that to her.
"She was a very intelligent woman and she felt betrayed and humiliated. To think it was her carer - the son she never had - who had treated her in such a way.
"He is just scum of the earth who had no remorse. He wanted money but didn't want to have to work for it."
Money denied helping himself to his elderly relative's savings over nearly a year, but a jury unanimously found him guilty and last week he was jailed for four years.
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Judge Philip Bartle QC said her account had gone from a healthy balance into debt and she could have ended up bankrupt.
He said: "Gillian Kirk was a remarkable woman who thought the world of you. You were the son she never had.
"However you betrayed that trust in an exceptional way. You took thousands of pounds from her for your own selfish greed, without a thought for this lady who you knew was dying of cancer.
"What an astonishing way to repay her love. All the while she was believing that you were the angel who was caring for her. The effect on her was devastating."
Earlier prosecutor Adam Pearson told Luton Crown Court: "Gillian Kirk never gave her permission for the defendant to buy things or make transactions.
"The only reason he had access to her card was to check her balance.
"This defendant, her great nephew, visited her home regularly.
"She relied on him. He was there nearly every night. He would get her food, sit and watch TV with her and do shopping for her.
"She would pay him for what he did. He was in his early 20s and unemployed."
Money, from Luton, Beds, made excuses that cash machines were not printing receipts and hid statements from Mrs Kirk, the court heard.
In early March 2014, he applied for a second loan using his aunt's details for another BMW.
The financial irregularities were uncovered by Barclays bank, who became suspicious that a 74-year-old woman was applying for finance for a second time in three months.