AN ELDERLY woman who is alleged to have been the victim of fraud was fully capable of managing her own affairs, her doctor told a trial yesterday.

Pontypool carer Jacqueline Courtney is accused of stealing more than £54,000 from 89-year-old Marion Edna Holland, for whom she cared.

Jacqueline Courtney, 49, and husband Stephen Courtney, 52, of The Woodlands, Pen-y-Garn, are on trial at Newport Crown Court and deny two counts of fraud.

It is alleged that between January 1, 2009 and March 24, 2010, they dishonestly abused their position as a carer for Mrs Holland by transferring £54,568.01 to themselves.

They are also accused of abusing their position by persuading Mrs Holland to change her will in favour of Jacqueline Courtney.

The court yesterday heard a statement from Mrs Hammond’s former GP Dr William James who was asked by her solicitor in 2009 if Mrs Hammond had the mental capacity to change her will.

Dr James visited Mrs Hammond and said she was fully capable of managing her own affairs.

He said Mrs Hammond said Jacqueline Courtney had been good to her and wanted her to benefit and was quite annoyed that the solicitor had written to him.

Jacqueline Courtney gave evidence yesterday explaining how she would be paid £140 a week as part of an agreement with Mrs Hammond for being her carer.

She said she would take £250 out of Mrs Hammond’s bank account using her debit card, keeping £140 for herself and spending around £50 a week on groceries for Mrs Hammond before always giving her back her card.

Judge Stephen Hopkins QC asked Jacqueline Courtney why she was getting £140 a week when she was also given £45,000 by Mrs Hammond as projected earnings for the part-time job she gave up to look after her.

Judge Hopkins said; “Why were you taking wages on top of the three year projected salary?”

Jacqueline Courtney said: “It was what she wanted to give me.”

Judge Hopkins also questioned her about the number of missing cheques from Mrs Hammond’s cheque book.

She said Mrs Hammond would get frustrated when writing them and crossed things out.

Prosecutor Janet McDonald questioned why Jacqueline Courtney would help her to write out cheques when Mrs Hammond was writing regular letters to her friends.

Jacqueline Courtney said: “It was the normal thing for me to do.”

Proceeding.