Cathy Watson (pictured) has been warned she faces jail after she was convicted of three counts of theft and one of transferring criminal property

A shameless mother who took money from her brain-damaged daughter’s £2.6million compensation fund and spent it on cars, jewellery and breast enlargements has been warned she faces jail.

Cathy Watson, 44, pocketed huge amounts of money earmarked for Samantha Svendsen, 29, who was awarded the money due to medical negligence when she was starved of oxygen at birth.

Instead of using the money for her daughter’s 24-hour care, cash taken over an eight-year period was spent on credit cards and cosmetic surgery.

Watson was convicted by a jury of three counts of theft and one of transferring criminal property at Doncaster Crown Court today.

Her ex-husband Robert Hills, 49, had previously pleaded guilty to four theft offences for his part in the crime, which saw over £500,000 of Samantha’s money stolen between the pair.

During Watson’s three-week trial, the court heard Samantha suffered irreversible brain damage because of medical negligence. She also suffered from cerebral palsy.

She needed 24-hour care and was awarded compensation of £2.6m in December 1999 after Grimsby and Scunthorpe Health Authority admitted liability.

The court heard £270,000 was given to Watson as payment for expenses she had already incurred and the remainder was paid to the Court Of Protection for the benefit of Samantha.

The pair were given £4,000 a month for household expenses to compensate them for not being able to work through providing full-time care.

But the court heard they still used Samantha’s money to live a lavish lifestyle.

Robert Hills (left), 49, had previously pleaded guilty to four theft offences for his part in the crime. Watson (right) was convicted by a jury at Doncaster Crown Court today

Katherine Robinson, prosecuting, told the court during the trial an analysis of spending patterns revealed that, between 1999 and 2004, £200,000 was spent by the couple on cars.

Almost £18,000 was spent on jewellery and from March 2000 to December 2001, more than £100,000 was spent on credit cards.

Money earmarked for a Florida villa for the girl was also pocketed, the court hea

The trial was told Watson spent a total of £12,222 on surgery, including breast implants and liposuction, over a period of about three years at Harley Medical Group.

The jury was also told how the couple built up a 60-strong collection of Royal Doulton ornaments and also spent £1,000 on a dolphin sculpture.

They also developed a taste for luxurious cars between 1999 and 2004.

Hills admitted stealing £137,950 from the proceeds of selling a property in Laceby, Lincolnshire, while Watson was today found guilty of stealing £145,000 from the sale of a house next door (pictured)

When a payment from the Court of Protection for Samantha was received, the couple purchased a Renault Laguna as a family vehicle and a Volkswagen Caravelle – which had been specifically modified to accommodate Samantha’s wheelchair.

But before long, Hills part-exchanged the Renault and bought himself a brand-new BMW Three Series. At the same time Watson purchased a brand-new Volkswagen Beetle.

The court heard how Hills then bought another BMW Three Series, followed by a BMW X5, a Mercedes E Class, another BMW X 5, a BMW 7 Series, another BMW X 5 and finally a BMW M3 3 Series.

Watson was cleared of a theft charge relating to £53,850 received from the Court Of Protection that was supposed to be spent on buying a property in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. Hills admitted an offence relating to the property (pictured)

Giving evidence against Watson during the trial, Hills said: ‘She got rid of the Beetle for a BMW Compact, then a Mercedes, then an Audi A4. After that there was a BMW in there somewhere then she purchased a Mini.’

He went on to say: ‘We spent £6,000 per calendar month on clothes, jewellery, Royal Doulton ornaments and holidays.’

Watson, of Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, was cleared of a further count of theft relating to £53,850 received from the Court Of Protection that was supposed to be spent on buying a property in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire.

The property was bought in February 2000 for £22,487 under a council right to buy scheme.
The COP agreed to transfer £213,000 to buy three properties. Of that, £53,850 was to buy the home.

The money was spent as the house had already been bought.

Hills admitted this offence and Watson was cleared by the jury.

The COP agreed in March 2004 to provide further money to buy a Florida villa, and £235,000 was released.

Hills admitted stealing £145,000. Watson was found guilty of this charge by the jury.
The couple later started divorce proceedings and the Florida villa plan was cancelled.

Hills also admitted not returning £25,966 from part of the refund for Samantha. Watson was convicted of stealing her share of the refund, totalling £41,334.

Hills admitted stealing £137,950 from the proceeds of selling a property in Laceby, Lincolnshire, while Watson was today found guilty of stealing £145,000 from the sale of a house next door. The proceeds should have gone to Samantha.

Watson maintained throughout the trial that she didn’t check account balances, claiming she left all administration to Hills.

She claimed the Court of Protection never briefed her on her role as Samantha’s deputy or receiver for her money.

Miss Robinson told the jury in her closing speech: ‘They got carried away, both of them.

‘They saw all those zeros on the bank account, both of them, and they spent like Lottery winners, both of them.’

Watson, who was wearing a white jumper and black trousers, wept loudly in the dock as the verdicts were read out.

Judge Jacqueline Davies told her: ‘The jury has found you guilty of offences that are distressing and serious.

‘The sentence you receive will inevitably be one of custody and of some significance.’

Watson and Hills, of Grimsby, will be sentenced together at a later date.

Read more: Daily Mail