A police officer shipped a "frail and confused" pensioner off to a care home, sold her house and used some of the proceeds to pay off his credit cards, a court heard.
John Morgan used £10,000 from the total of more than £200,000 to pay off his two debts and one of his wife's cards.
The couple then spent a large sum of the rest of the money on themselves, it is alleged.
Basildon Crown Court has heard John Morgan befriended 89-year-old spinster Joan Harping when he was sent to investigate bogus workmen ripping her off at her home in Palmer's Green in north London in 2001.
He was a PC with the Metropolitan Police at the time and later transferred to Essex Police before resigning. He and his wife Eunice are accused of stealing more than £280,000 from her over three years to fund a luxury lifestyle.
The couple, of Upper Third Avenue, Frinton, deny 15 charges of obtaining money transfers by deception.
John Morgan also denies three charges of forgery along with using a false instrument.
The trial continues
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, February 22, 2006
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