Police officers pursing a fraudster mother and daughter duo discovered the daughter hiding in a kitchen cupboard during a search of a house in Maidstone.
In November 2025, Kathlene Perry and her daughter Siobhan, went on a shopping spree in the town centre using a stolen bank card that Kathlene had taken from an elderly victim whilst pretending to be their carer.
A concerned family member discovered their relative, who is in her 90s, had been targeted and alerted the police on 15th November. It was found a bank card had been stolen and officers launched an investigation.
Their enquiries into the victim’s bank account led them to trawl through hours of CCTV footage and then identify Kathlene Perry as the bogus carer. Following her movements through the town centre, they noted she was joined by her daughter, and they had both used the card in several shops, buying cigarettes, a vape, food from Burger King and attempting to withdraw money from an ATM.
The investigation also found that the bank card had been used by the pair multiple times in the days before the card was reported stolen. In total, more than £2,300 had been spent.
Due to the quick work of the investigating team, Kathlene Perry, 61, was arrested at her home address in Acorn Place, Maidstone on the same day the report had been made to the police. She was charged with 14 offences of fraud, burglary and a breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order. The order was enforced in April 2024 which prevented her from using a bank card that wasn’t in her name for cash withdrawals and purchases.
Attempts were made to arrest Siobhan Perry and on 24th November, officers found her hiding after she had wedged herself into her friend’s kitchen cupboard. She was removed and arrested. The 43 year old of Station Road, Maidstone was charged with eight counts of fraud.
They both pleaded guilty and were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday 29th May 2026. Kathlene Perry was jailed for 3 years and 3 months and Siobhan Perry received 9 months’ imprisonment.
Detective Sergeant Matt Lynch said ‘We take all reports of crime seriously, particularly where the victim has been targeted because they are very vulnerable. This mother and daughter are serial offenders and officers were quick to identify them as suspects. Hours’ worth of CCTV footage was examined to piece together the extent of their crimes and the pair were tracked down and arrested.’
