'Manipulative' Preston woman exploited 81-year-old man with dementia for money

A daughter has spoken of her distress after a 'manipulative' woman persistently targeted her vulnerable father with dementia for her own financial gain.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Claire Neville, 48, befriended the 81-year-old victim and for several years regularly visited him asking for money.

But in the last eight months, when Neville realised he had been widowed, police say this behaviour increased.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Officers say they worked tirelessly with the victim's family after they discovered what was happening to gather evidence against Neville.

Neville, of no fixed address, has now been hit with a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and a restraining order by Lancashire Magistrates' Court after being found guilty of harassment.

Vicky Curteis, daughter of the victim, said: "This has been a particularly distressing time for the family.

"My dad was vulnerable, yet this woman was very manipulative and continuously harassed him for money and he genuinely thought he was helping her, and because of his dementia he didn’t realise how often she kept coming to his front door."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Neville must now comply with the following conditions or face a prison sentence while the CBO - which is in force until July 30, 2023 - is in place:

Claire Neville (pictured) has been hit with a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order after exploiting a man with dementia for money. (Credit: Lancashire Police)Claire Neville (pictured) has been hit with a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order after exploiting a man with dementia for money. (Credit: Lancashire Police)
Claire Neville (pictured) has been hit with a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order after exploiting a man with dementia for money. (Credit: Lancashire Police)

- Not ask people for money or goods or approach any person for that purpose in any public place or in any place which the public have access to, unless during the process of buying goods or services in retail premises.

- Not instruct, encourage or permit any other person to approach any residential address within the county of Lancashire for the purposes of asking for goods or money.

- Not be with or associate or communicate directly or indirectly with the victim.

- Not to enter Bushell Place in Preston.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

- Not to loiter outside shops within the county of Lancashire without the intention of entering the shop to purchase goods or services

- Not enter Preston train station or any surrounding land owned by the railway, including the train station car park, unless travelling by train.

- Not to enter any supported living or sheltered accommodation facilities without prior permission from the housing provider, unless residing there as a permanent resident.

- Positively engage with drug and alcohol services provided by INSPIRE.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

- Positively engage with support services, specifically housing services provided by Lancashire County Council.

Sgt Dan Wood, of Preston Police, said: "This activity has been going on for some time with this particular man.

"We have worked closely with the victim's family to ensure he is safeguarded but also it has taken time to build up evidence as a lot of this activity has been difficult to capture.

"Operation Wolf is a multi-agency approach to tackling elderly exploitation. Hopefully this CBO will act as a deterrent to those thinking of targeting vulnerable people."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Vicky added: "I can’t stress enough how important it is to report any suspicions to the police straight away, keep notes of any unwanted visits and install CCTV if possible.

"Preston Neighbourhood Policing team were great with their advice and support. If you want to help someone, do it through the proper channels and through a recognised charity not by giving anyone money at your front door or in the street."

If you have any concerns that someone you know or a relative might be a victim, report it to police by calling 101 or online HERE, quoting Operation Wolf in your report.

If you have any other information regarding elderly exploitation, email [email protected]