Nursing assistant and mum jailed for “mean and despicable” theft from an elderly patient in Belfast

This prompted thniece,e neighbours to contact the pensioner’s sister, who confirmed she did not have any nieces.

Belfast City Hospital

Today, a nursing assistant and her mother were jailed for “mean and despicable” offences against an elderly hospital patient.

Julie Anne Lemon, 45, and her 65-year-old mother, Claire Clarina Lemon, were both jailed for eight months for offences against a “vulnerable and elderly” widow.

A third woman - Julie Anne’s 41-year-old sister Michelle Seenan - was issued a 6-month sentence, suspended for a year.

The 72-year-old victim had stolen her bank cards and house keys while a patient on a ward at Belfast City Hospital in May 2019, Julie Anne Lemon.

Her sister and mother became involved in further offending by burgling the pensioner’s home in Lisburn in June 2019.

Once inside, they stole bank documents from the property and then used the stolen bank cards at a cash machine on Shankill Road and Castle Court.

As he jailed the mother and daughter at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Stephen Fowler QC spoke of the “degree of planning” that went into the “persistent” offending.

Citing Julie Anne Lemon as the most guilty, Judge Fowler spoke of “a blatant breach of trust in respect of a very ill and vulnerable woman.”

The Belfast Recorder said she stole the items whilst working as a nursing assistant, used hospital records to learn where the patient lived, and then stole the pensioner’s home and removed money from her bank account.

Her actions, the Judge said, also “caused suspicion to fall on another working on the ward.”

The pensioner was admitted to the hospital in April 2019, and her handbag holding her purse and keys was placed in the ambulance with her.

Due to a deterioration in her health, she remained in hospital, and at the end of May, her house keys and purse were missing.

On June 6th, 2019, Julie Anne and Claire Lemon pulled up in a taxi and went into the pensioner’s Lisburn home.

The same thing occurred on June 11th; Claire Lemon and her daughter Michelle Seenan stole the property on this occasion.

As they left, they were spoken to by neighbours, with Claire Lemon telling them she was the pensioner’s niece and her aunt would not be coming home as she was being moved to residential care.

This prompted neighbours to contact the pensioner’s sister, who confirmed she had no nieces.

The family then dealt with the house, changed the locks, and informed the Police Service of Northern Ireland. On June 14th, two women were again occasionally seen at the woman’s household; they could not gain access.

They left the area, and after police were notified, they were arrested a brief time later after boarding a bus.

The pair - Julie Ann and her mother - were searched, and the older woman was found to have the pensioner’s bank cards.

Following their arrest, the pair initially denied involvement but later confessed.

Julie Ann Lemon, from Altnagarron Mews in West Belfast, admitted charges of theft, burglary, attempted burglary and two counts of fraud by false representation.

Her mother, Claire Clarina Lemon, a grandmother of ten from Malvern Way in the city, admitted two counts of burglary, attempted burglary and seven counts of fraud by false representation.

Michelle Seenan, from Tyndale Gardens, was also arrested and admitted going to Lisburn with her mother and using the bank card thrice to withdraw £500, split three ways.

As he imposed sentences on all three women, Judge Fowler said he had considered their circumstances.

This included Julie Anne Lemon being the primary carer for her two children and her ill physical and mental health.

Saying the custody threshold was “well and truly been surpassed” in her case, Judge Fowler imposed a 16-month sentence which he divided equally between prison and licence.

Judge Fowler said he had also considered Claire Lemon’s health issues, including dementia.

As he jailed her for eight months, the Judge said: “Her disability did not prevent her from becoming repeatedly involved in the present offending.

“She has relevant convictions and knew the burglary and thefts were committed against a sick and vulnerable old person.”

Seenan - who the Judge said was the least culpable and “heavily influenced by her mother and sister to become involved in the criminal enterprise” - was handed a 6-month suspended sentence and was warned that any further offending in the next 12 months could lead to immediate jail.