Mum who kept £15k left to Willowbrook Hospice is jailed

It was heard in a trial in May that Deborah Nilsson, of Evelyn Street in Parr, had spent money on a new kitchen, bathroom, washing machine, a family holiday as well as other items.

Her estranged daughter informed the hospice of the crime.

A jury, which unanimously found the 52-year-old guilty of fraud at Liverpool Crown Court, heard that approximately £15,000 should have gone to Willowbrook Hospice in Portico Lane, Eccleston Park.

In her trial, Nilsson had denied the fraud and claimed that her mum had made a “death bed will” saying she wanted the money to go to her rather than the hospice, which the jury rejected.

She appeared back before Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Friday, for sentence, after an earlier hearing was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be made.

That previous hearing heard from prosecutor Sarah Holt that less than six months after making her will, the defendant’s mother was transferred to Willowbrook and was cared for by staff until her death in January 2013.

She had appointed her daughter Nilsson and her then son-in-law to act as executors, with both swearing an oath that they would “collect, get in and administer her estate according to the law".

The trial heard that Willowbrook received nothing and in fact knew nothing of Nilsson’s mother’s will until July 2017, when they received an email from the defendant’s estranged daughter.

The hospice instructed solicitors and eventually in December 2018, she confirmed she had spent the money.

They told the police and when interviewed in February 2019, Nilsson said her mum had changed her mind about her will in the days prior to her death.

She alleged the care provided by the hospice was poor and complaints had been made about her mum’s care.

During today’s hearing, Cheryl Mottram, defending, told the judge that Nilsson accepted the verdict from the jury, accepts it is a “very serious matter” and that her behaviour could affect the hospice.

Willowbrook Hospice

She explained how Nilsson has always been a “hard working woman” who has had long term employment in a pharmaceutical company, and that Mrs Nilsson has now “lost her good character”.

Ms Mottram also stated that Nilsson had a “low risk of reoffending and is of a low risk to the public.”

She went on to tell the judge that Nilsson also cared for a sick family member and that her support is “very significant.”

Before sentencing, judge Anil Murray said he agreed with the jury’s decision and did not believe Nilsson’s claims.

He said that “it did not take the jury long” to see through Nilsson’s “lies”, and despite taking into consideration her good character, work record and family circumstances, a sentence of imprisonment was “inevitable.”

Judge Murray said: “Instead of sending the money to the hospice you spent it on yourself.

“You are still in denial, you show no remorse for your actions and thought only of yourself in this case and continue to do so.

“In my judgement the only appropriate punishment is immediate custody.”

Nilsson was jailed for 18 months.