A charity worker faces jail after being found guilty of fleecing a 102-year-old woman of her £288,000 life-savings to buy two homes.
Julie Sayles, 59, set up a joint bank account with centenarian Edith Negus before transferring over her savings in return for the 'care' she provided.
Greedy gran-of-two Sayles then coerced centenarian Edith Negus into changing her will and name her as a beneficiary - after saying her solicitor was "gone".
Hull Crown Court, East Yorks., heard when Edith passed away Sayles then executed the will and the majority of her assets were bequeathed to her.
Julie Sayles (TOP RIGHT) with Edith Negus (102) (BOTTOM RIGHT) Picture credit: SWNS.
Sayles tried to cover her blatant tracks by labelling the windfall a 'thank you' gift.
Defence Barrister Peter Bryne said the defendant last worked in October 2014 following the allegations and is a diabetes sufferer and is awaiting an operation for a hysterectomy because of a problem with her Thyroid.
She even stopped Edith's family from sorting funeral arrangements and during the service talked more about Ebola than Edith.
A statement released through Edith's family read: "Edith was a beautiful, kind and loving woman with many friends and family who loved her daily.
"This investigation has been horrific and taken a huge toll, which has caused the family stress, anxiety and heart-ache.
"We have not been able to grieve for Edith and are mortified with the situation which was forced upon us.
"Julie did not also take advantage of Edith as she deceived everyone around and steal from Edith for her own personal gain.
"Julie Sayles organised Edith's funeral and at the ceremony the baptist spoke more about Ebola - rather than the reason we were there.
"Whilst the burial was taking place Julie was seen laughing on a bench laughing and joking."
Pictured: Edith Negus. Picture credit: SWNS
During the trial, a jury was told Sayles had accosted centenarian Edith Negus on her doorstep and persuaded her to change her will and name her as beneficiary.
Edith's neighbour Jennifer Booth rang the police after hearing loud voices outside the property and felt "physically sick" upon hearing the one-way conversation.
Recalling the conversation Sayles had with Edith outside her bungalow, Jennifer told the court through tears: "I heard these words: 'Edith, there is something I need to talk to you about with your will.
"'Your solicitor is gone and your will is null and void because your memory is going and you're getting old.
"'I want you to take a will out leaving your estate to me and I will make sure that if you want to give anyone anything, I shall give them it.'"
After Edith died in October 2014, Sayles used £288K of Edith's cash and bought two properties which the defendant claims was given to her as a 'thank you'.
But the defendant claimed that Edith begged her to ensure that she wouldn't be put into care and paid her the income to allow her to remain as her carer.
Edith, of Bridlington, East Yorks., sadly died on the October 5, 2014.
The jury were then told that the defendant changed Edith's will to allow her to gain all of the assets rather than the nieces and nephews that were expected to inherit them.
Accused: Julie Sayles. Picture credit: SWNS
Edith's family were surprised that the OAP had so much cash burrowed away, but said she was "thrifty" and "tight with money".
Mr Stevenson added: "The defendant took advantage of Edith in the months that she got to know her."
Edith's family were surprised that the OAP had so much cash burrowed away, but said she was "thrifty" and "tight with money".
A jury of nine men and three women took only two hours to find Sayles guilty to all seven counts following a six day trial.
Sayles was found guilty of defrauding Edith out of £7,688 in February 2014, £150,000 in March 2014, £90,000 in June 2014 and £40,000 in July 2014, and fraudulently executing her will between September and October 2014.
She was found guilty money-laundering through the purchase of a property in Trowbridge, Wilts., in April 2014 and in Scarborough, North Yorks., in September 2014.
Upon the verdict Sayles' daughter and son ran out the court and slammed the court room door.
Judge Anthony Kelbrick told Sayles: "I will not sentence you until 1.45pm as I want time to reflect on the gravity of my decision.
"This is a very serious matter and I need an appropriate time for me to reflect on the sentence I impose."
Sayles was remanded in custody.
Charity organisation, Friends of the Elderly released a statement following the verdict: "We would like to make it clear that Julie Sayles is not connected in any way to the national charity Friends of the Elderly (www.fote.org.uk – charity number 226064). The reports refer to Friends of the Elderly Bridlington (charity number 1083186)."
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