Niece swindled aunt and uncle out of £150k life savings to splash out on 5* hotel stays and swish designer clothes

The Sun

11-07-2025

A NIECE swindled her elderly aunt and uncle out of their £150,000 life savings to fund her lavish lifestyle.
Lucy Paginton funded luxury holidays and trips to five star hotels using money she had pilfered from relatives Frank Hillier, 88, and Mary, 90.
4
4
The 28-year-old, of Newport, South Wales, was raised by the couple "like a daughter" since the age of two.
Cardiff Crown Court heard they spoiled her throughout her life, forking out on holidays, buying her gifts and leasing cars on her behalf.
Pensioner Mrs Hillier told how both her and her husband had become "unwell" dealing with the stress and upset after the shocking betrayal.
The mum-of-one spent time at the five-star Celtic Manor resort in Newport and funded trips to high-end designer store Flannels.
In 2017, Paginton asked her aunt and uncle for their help to buy a house.
But rather than using the money to put down a deposit, she kept the money they had given her.
To continue her deception, Paginton then forged several documents including correspondence from Halifax bank and Redrow house builders.
Prosecutor Thomas Stanway told the court: "A plan was agreed that they would pay the deposits for two properties.
"Paginton would live in one house and her aunt and uncle in the other.
"The property the Hilliers lived in would then pass over to her after they had died.
"When one considers Miss Paginton's bank statements one can see that in effect the payments were simply made to fund her lifestyle.
"There were visits to the Celtic Manor Resort, payments to Flannels, a high-end designer clothing shop.
My disabled mum said she was in love with US soldier but she'd actually given conman £169k - she's one of 1,000s of Brits being targeted
"There were also payments to various travel companies noted within her bank statements."
In a victim impact statement, Mrs Hillier told how the betrayal had hurt more because the couple had showed Paginton "so much love".
She said: "It hurts because she lied to us and we showed her so much love, gave her holidays, money and she never went without.
"We were willing to buy her a house but she decided to steal from us instead.
"It's affected my mental health and my husband's physical and mental health.
"Every night going to bed I find it difficult to sleep and we're constantly worried about the case.
"The stress of it all has made us unwell."
The court heard she had gained £150,555 from her fraud.
4
But at a Proceeds of Crime hearing, Paginton was ordered to pay just £1 because she had no available assets.
Mrs Hillier explained that the couple made sure their niece didn't get away with her crimes, but insisted they still loved her.
She added: "We have lost everything we have worked hard for and family have distanced themselves from us.
"We couldn't let her get away with this and can't believe she did this.
"We still love the defendant but she hurt us and broke our trust.
"We hope to get justice from this case and make Lucy realise the consequences of her actions.
She was jailed for four years and eight months in January after pleading guilty to seven counts of fraud at Newport Crown Court.
During her sentencing, Judge Carl Harrison said: "Your victims thought highly of you, they trusted you and they loved you.
"It was that love and trust that led them to falling victim to your repeated dishonest behaviour.
"For four years you cynically and repeatedly abused the trust that Frank and Mary Hillier placed in you to enrich yourself and defraud them.
"They described it as being a living hell. They are an elderly couple who should be looking forward to their future.
"Their lives have been ruined by your selfish actions."
4