An Auckland woman has been sentenced to 10 months home detention after admitting stealing $120,000 from her father who had dementia. Carolyn Diane Alleyne, 65, pleaded guilty in April to five representative charges of theft by a person in a special relationship. She was sentenced at the Manukau District Court on Tuesday. Alleyne fleeced money from her father Ron Greenhalgh, 95, a World War II veteran who died on Father’s Day 2016. She had paid the court $120,000 in reparation which would be given to her brother, Michael Greenhalgh. Judge Mina Wharepouri said Alleyne systematically stole money from her ill father to fuel her lifestyle. “That included a gambling habit which was satisfied through your use of the TAB,” he said. “Your offending only came to light when your actions resulted in there being insufficient money in his account.” The insufficient funds meant her father could not pay for ongoing costs at Metlifecare where he was cared for, the judge said. Alleyne then removed her father from care and he stayed at her Pakuranga home. He was later admitted to hospital with deteriorating health where he eventually died. “You had a duty of care. Instead of applying his funds for his benefit as you should have done, much of his money was in fact misapplied by you,” Judge Wharepouri said. Michael Greenhalgh described his sister as “cold, callous, heartless and cruel”.
