A WOMAN who stole more than £300 from an ill and vulnerable Chester man after befriending him has escaped a jail sentence.

Leanne Jane Williams, aged 22, of Corwen Road, Treuddyn was given a 56 day prison sentence suspended for 18 months by Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday (November 19).

The court heard how, while living in Hoole, she befriended Chester man James Seel.

Anne Rouse, prosecuting, said: “Over two years Mr Seel became friendly with the defendant, he welcomed her into his home. She was doing washing for him and helping with housework, and he would pay her for it.

“Mr Seel would give the defendant his post office card to do shopping and withdraw money. It was at the end of August he noticed that £60 had been withdrawn without his permission.”

After this he found his card was missing and discovered it was among her boyfriend’s belongings. When he confronted Williams she gave him a card which he thought was his.

Mrs Rouse said: “When he went to the post office he discovered the card did not work and it was not his.”

On September 3, Mr Seel found out that Williams had taken a further £265 from his account.

Williams was also sentenced for three counts of theft from a supermarket.

She was sentenced to 56 days in prison suspended for 18 months, and she is to be supervised by the probation service for 28 months and ordered to continue with her substance abuse programme.