UK woman took dead friend's bank card, spent money on McDonald's and scratchies

UK woman took dead friend's bank card, spent money on McDonald's and scratchies
Photo credit: Facebook - Terrilee Yates, McDonald's - Getty Images

Just hours after finding her friend dead, a UK woman took her bank card and used it to purchase McDonald's and scratchies, a court has heard.

Thirty-two-year-old Terrilee Yates found her friend Jane Godfrey dead in her home in Swinton and reported it to emergency services in March 2020, the Manchester Evening reported.

But four hours later, Godfrey's bank card was used to purchase food at McDonald's. It was then used at a local Tesco supermarket to withdraw nearly $590 in cash and purchase nearly $30 worth of scratch cards.

In her police interview, Yates claimed both she and Godfrey were drug users and claimed they both had access to each other's bank details.

She added that Godfrey owed her nearly $600 and gave her permission to get the money before she passed away.

Yates appeared over videolink at Manchester Crown Court on May 13 and pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation and was given 180 hours of community service as punishment.

She is also required to complete a 12-month drug rehabilitation programme.

She was said to have several previous convictions including dishonesty, robbery and shoplifting.

Judge Timothy Smith described the offences as "low, mean, dishonest and amoral".

Godfrey's daughter Sadie Bird criticised Yates and is quoted as saying "that's not human".

"You don't find someone dead, take their bank cards and go spend money and the first place you go to is McDonald's. She's scum, she's not human," Metro reported her saying.

Bird said when she returned to her mother's home it looked like it had been rifled through and her bank statements were everywhere.

When describing her mother Bird said she "would do anything for anyone, even a stranger, and she [Yates] took advantage of her".