Two people charged with defrauding an elderly woman of over $50,000 were sentenced in Pictou Provincial Court on Tuesday July 16.
Beverly Ann Barker and David Anthony Barker were each given three years of probation and must repay the money that was taken.
The victim is an 83-year old woman who is Beverly Ann Barker’s mother.
Victims of financial exploitation can be targeted more easily by scammers, and so their name is not included in the sentencing report, Judge Del Atwood stated.
According to the report, the victim was “coaxed and cajoled” into entering financial-service contracts with the Barkers.
“This lady had no capacity to enter into financial-services contracts, but gave in to the pressure the Barkers laid upon her,” Atwood wrote.
The sentencing report states that the victim was living with the Barkers at the time that these contracts were signed and was dependent on them for care.
The Barkers are not to contact the victim without their approval and will spend the first six months of their probation orders under house arrest.
Fraud over $5,000 carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. The prosecution in this case recommended 90 days plus restitution costs.
However, Atwood ruled in the report that a probation order would allow the Barkers to begin repaying the victim immediately.
“A probationary sentence can put the Barkers to work right away on doing right by Mrs. Barker’s mother, precisely as they have said they want to do.”
