TWO women who defrauded a dying North Yorkshire businesswoman out of more than £250,000 have been jailed.

Recorder Simon Eckersley told Elizabeth Johnson, 67, who had claimed to be the victim’s friend: “No friend would have exploited a woman as you did. Only a callous, calculating, cruel and deeply dishonest person would have done what the jury was sure you did.”

She and accomplice Machele Caroline Farrar, 60, had turned Fiona Rhodes’ financially sound caravan park business with an annual turnover of £400,000 into their own personal “cash cow” and milked it for £13,000 a month between September 1, 2013 to October 2, 2015, until the park manager had realised what was going on and alerted the authorities.

In total, Johnson had defrauded Mrs Rhodes, 54, who has since died, out of £153,344 and Farrar, £134,445,

The judge told the pair at York Crown Court: “You should both be thoroughly ashamed. It was despicable and wicked dishonesty.”

Johnson, who has also used the surname Hill, of West Square, Scarborough, was jailed for four years and Farrar, of Manor Road, Scarborough, for three and a half years.

Both denied two charges each of fraud by abuse of position, but were convicted by a jury last month.

For both women, lawyers said they had a litany of medical problems and unsuccessfully argued not all the money had been obtained dishonestly.

After the hearing, Detective Constable Mark Butcher, of North Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said Johnson had gambled much of the money away online.

“The success of this prosecution is as a result of a two-year investigation brought about by the honesty and integrity of the park manager who first noticed the anomalies,” he said.

“I hope today’s outcome provides some comfort to Fiona’s family and friends and sends a message to anyone who believes they will get away with betraying the trust of anyone, particularly a vulnerable person who needs help.”

A police spokesman said Johnson had contacted Mrs Rhodes “out of the blue” and offered to help her with her financial affairs when Mrs Rhodes had personal difficulties. Johnson then involved Farrar and between them, they ran the business’s accounts, payroll and bill handling, although neither had relevant qualifications.