AN AUNT has been jailed for three years after she stole more than £50,000 of her nephew’s inheritance.

Rhona Haslam was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court yesterday after she admitted stealing cash from a trust fund set up on behalf of her nephew, Robert Simpson, following the death of her brother in 1994.

Recorder Graham Knowles QC said: “Your conduct was, it seems to me, callous, systematic and cruel. It was a gross breach of the high trust reposed in you by your brother and by society on behalf of children.”

He said her actions were “against the normal instincts of human feelings”, adding: “Your conduct over a long period was despicable.”

David Clarke, prosecuting, told the court that Robert Keith Simpson had left Haslam, aged 51, of Hazelmere, Kearsley, in charge of his estate.

He died at the age of 41, when his son, Robert, was aged four.

Mr Simpson left his home in Rake Lane, Clifton, as well as his furniture, personal possessions and some nvestments to his sister. But the main bequest was his occupational pension, worth £47,056.56, which he left to his son.

In August, 1994, a trust fund was set up in Robert’s name and two trustees were appointed; Haslam and Robert’s mother, Janet Lacey, whose name is now Royle.

Mr Clarke said that between February, 1998, and June, 2003, Haslam made 26 withdrawals from the trust by forging the signature of Janet Lacey in a “systematic breach of trust”.

The fraud was discovered in late 2008 when Robert, now aged 20, asked his mother what he would be likely to receive from his trust fund to buy a house.

The bank told them the balance was £293.17. Police found that £52,600 had been withdrawn from the fund by way of written requests, which led back to Haslam.

During a police interview Haslam initially denied any wrongdoing before admitting to being the author of all the letters and to forging the signature of the victim’s mother.

Paul Tonge, defending, said Haslam had resorted to stealing the money to pay debts and had always meant to repay it. She had not lived a “flashy lifestyle” but had lived beyond her means.

Recorder Knowles added: “Nothing can make up for the loss of a father, but the father’s thoughtfulness and the care he had for his son at least lived on in the legacy. Or so the family thought. But you had known otherwise and had known it for years. You treated the fund as your own.”

Haslam admitted forgery, obtaining property by deception and three counts of obtaining money by deception.

A confiscation hearing will take place on November 6 to decide how Haslam will repay the money.

pkeaveny@theboltonnews.co.uk