Issue. 45 - July 2018
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STOCKPORT WOMAN JAILED
COMPETITION
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FOR MANSLAUGHTER OF FATHER
A Stockport woman who hit her father over the head with a spade and buried him in the garden has been jailed. Barbara Coombes (15/07/1954) of Matlock Road, Stockport, On Wednesday 11 July 2018, been jailed at Manchester Crown Square for nine years. The court heard how in January 2006, Barbara Coombes had been gardening at her father’s home on Matlock Road in Stockport. Coombes then went into the house and saw a box of photographs on the dining table, which she started looking through. When she realised these were explicit images of a child, Coombes took the spade she had been using from the garden and confronted her 87-yearold father Kenneth in the lounge. Coombes struck him in the back of the head first, then when he turned to face her, she struck him a second time with the spade. She then wrapped her father in a rug and dragged his body outside, where she buried him behind a tree. The following day Coombes ordered a tonne of soil which was used to bury Kenneth in their back garden. To explain her father’s sudden disappearance to
the rest of the family, Coombes said Kenneth had died and the hospital had arranged for his cremation. After the makeshift burial, Coombes cleared out Kenneth’s belongings from the house. She further concealed her father’s death from the council and other services, continuing to live in his home, claiming his benefits and using his money. Over the 12 years that Kenneth’s death was undisclosed, Coombes fraudulently profited from over £180,000 in benefits. On Saturday 7 January 2018, after a welfare officer insisted on seeing Kenneth at a scheduled meeting the next day, Coombes went to a police station and told officers what had happened. She was arrested and pleaded guilty to manslaughter, preventing a lawful burial and fraud at an earlier hearing. Senior Investigating Officer Duncan Thorpe of GMP’s Major Incident Support Unit, said: “This is a tragic case in which an elderly man has been killed by his own daughter, who then went on to fraudulently claim benefits of over £180,000. “She showed absolutely no concern for what she had done and denied everyone the chance to say goodbye, as Kenneth lay buried at the bottom of his own garden, just metres from her own bedroom window. “Despite having years to tell someone
what really happened, she only came of all concerned cannot be underestimated. As these tragic forward when she had no other events have come to an end I hope that the family can now choice. move forward with their lives.” “The impact on the family and friends
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHO'S REALLY CALLING
Greater Manchester Police has launched a fraud prevention campaign, following a spike in incidents of fraudsters contacting people by phone pretending to be police officers and trick them out of their money. Advice has been issued to the public telling them how to spot potential fraud scams and to protect themselves from falling victim. The recent scam involves offenders calling victims claiming to be a police officer investigating a fraud crime. They then ask for the victims help by getting them to either withdraw money from their bank account to be collected by a courier, transfer money into a different bank account or tricking them into giving them
their bank account details. Detective Superintendent Nicky Porter of GMP’s Economic and Cybercrime Service, said: “Fraud can have a devastating impact on people’s lives. “Our campaign aims to encourage people to stop and think about who is on the other end of the phone and not to give anyone their bank details or personal information. The more information we can give people about fraud and how to protect themselves, the easier it will be to stop it from taking place. “Fraudsters often target older and more vulnerable people, but I would urge anyone who suspects they have been a victim of fraud to report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.” GMP has issued advice for the
public on how to avoid being caught out by fraudsters and what to do if you feel suspicious: • Never give money or personal information to someone you do not know or trust. • Never disclose your bank details or PIN number. • A police officer will never ask you for bank details or to withdraw or transfer money to another account. • A police officer will never ask you to purchase goods for them using your card. • You can contact your local neighbourhood policing team to verify if someone is a police officer. Find your local contact number here: www.gmp.police.uk
• Fraudsters will pressure you into making unwise decisions. They might tell you not to speak about it to other people so they don’t get caught. • Be suspicious of phone calls, texts or emails which come out of the blue asking for personal and financial details or asking you to withdraw money regardless of who they claim to be. • If you receive a call that raises your suspicions hang up the phone and allow at least five minutes for the line to clear. • If you spot a scam or have been scammed, report it and get help. Contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at www.actionfraud. police.uk.