'Manipulative' care worker spun lies about domestic violence and murder to deceive couple, court is told

Kayleigh Asquith, 27, lied to the man and woman about having a young son, spoke at length about fictitious boyfriends who had been violent towards her, sent messages to the couple pretending she was a police liaison officer and even claimed that she was connected to a murder case.

Asquith appeared at Leeds Crown Court via a video link from HMP New Hall where she had been held on remand for the past two months.

Prosecuting, Geraldine Kelly, said that Asquith had befriended the couple from the Pontefract area in 2017 after helping to care for the woman's father.

After spinning a tale about her boyfriend being abusive and having money problems, the couple allowed her to live with them rent free.

She asked the man to help her buy a car, claiming loans had been taken out in her name when she was younger and was unable to get finance.

In June 2017 she then bought two iPads worth thousands of pounds using the man's account while he was away on holiday, something which she denied when he confronted her.

She was asked to move out, but then sent the couple messages pretending to be a police liaison officer and told them she had been taken into police protection.

The court was told that the couple eventually helped her buy her several cars, including the Range Rover.

Victim impact statements read out suggested the couple had been deeply affected by the lies and deceit from Asquith.

The court was also told that she had become a carer for another woman from Castleford last year who suffered from multiple sclerosis, and that she had stolen and used the woman's Argos card.

Asquith, of Holly Street, Hemsworth, admitted two counts of fraud, one of theft, and perverting the course of justice.

Mitigating, Jo Shepherd said that Asquith had no previous convictions and that her difficult childhood had played a part in her behaviour.

She said: "It does not excuse her behaviour but might account for why she has acted in a rather bizarre way and was ultimately doomed to failure.

"She struggled to come to terms with the lies she has told.

"She desperately found a family that she craved from childhood and was doing everything to hold onto that relationship.

"While she manipulated and deceived them, it was born perhaps out of her motivation to become part of their family."

Ms Shepherd said Asquith had paid back much of the money she owed, with around £7,500 still outstanding.

She said Asquith had also realised that her career as a care worker that she loved was now over.

Recorder Jennifer Carter-Manning said: "Your offending involved multiple acts of dishonest manipulation and complicated deceit.

"People who trusted you, liked you and loved you were perfectly entitled to rely upon you."

She jailed Asquith for 27 months.