Aunt must pay stolen inheritance

Rhona Haslam spent the money in department stores

A woman who used her nephew's inheritance to go on a five-year spending spree has been told she must pay back the full amount of £56,982.

Rhona Haslam, 51, from Bolton, was branded "callous and cruel" by the judge who jailed her for three years at the town's crown court in July.

Four months on, a proceeds of crime hearing at the same court has ordered her to pay back every penny she stole.

Her victim Robert Simpson, 20, said she made him feel "physically sick".

Mr Simpson's father - also called Robert - died in 1994 at the age of 41.

After his death it was discovered he had left his home, furniture and some investments to his sister, Haslam.

Robert's father wanted to give him a fantastic start in life and Haslam tried to take that from him Financial investigator Tony Wood

But he left his occupational pension in trust for his son, who was four years old at the time.

Haslam and Mr Simpson's mother were both appointed legal executors of the estate.

But Haslam helped herself to the money, spending £52,600 in sprees at stores including Debenhams, Next and Asda.

Police were called after Mr Simpson asked his mother to check the balance in August 2008 to find the fund had dwindled to just £293.17.

Haslam, of Hazelmere, Kearsley, admitted forging her sister-in-law's signature, obtaining property by deception and three counts of obtaining money by deception, in a previous hearing at Bolton Crown Court.

Mr Simpson said his aunt made him feel sick

It is estimated the fund's value would have exceeded £79,000 if it had been left to mature.

Mr Simpson, a council play worker, said he had planned to use his father's legacy as a deposit for a house.

Financial investigator Tony Wood, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Haslam stole tens of thousands of pounds from a fund set up by her own brother and the victim's dead father.

"Robert's father wanted to give him a fantastic start in life and Haslam tried to take that from him.

"This legislation [the Proceeds of Crime Act] has ensured Robert's wishes will be granted and once again goes to show our investigations don't stop once a defendant has been sentenced."