A WOMAN who stole her housemate’s life savings has left her victim feeling “trapped” in his own home.

Dawn Owens defrauded her victim, with whom she still lives, out of £32,000 by forging his signature on 14 cheques.

She would cash the cheques and spread the money throughout her five accounts.

Southampton Crown Court heard her victim who, like Owens, is deaf, was “absolutely devastated and anxious” when she admitted taking the money from his account.

In a statement read to the court by prosecutor Lucy Conroy, the victim’s mother said: “He can’t understand why she stole from him.

“He is trapped in that home because she still lives there but pays no rent and he has to pay off the mortgage.”

The mother added: “He worked very hard for that money in a full-time job. He never took sick days.”

Ms Conroy told the court that the victim found out about the fraud when he tried to book his annual holiday.

When he confronted Owens, she initially denied it but placed £2,000 cash on his bed to try to help him get back on his feet.

Ms Conroy said at the time, the victim’s father was dying and despite continuing to cash cheques from accounts, Owens even went to his father’s funeral.

At first, the court heard, Owens would cash cheques valued at around £2,000 – but soon started cashing them for £4,000.

When the victim’s cash dried up, she stopped.

In her second police interview Owens admitted taking the money during a five-month period between July, 2017, and January, 2018.

The bank managed to give the victim his money back by placing a debt on Owens’ account.

However, as she owns part of the home, Ms Conroy said it was concerning for the victim that the home may need to be sold to pay off the debt.

In mitigation Peter Asteris said Owens had lived an “isolated and vulnerable life” due to her hearing loss.

Mr Asterise explained the home was owned both by Owens and the victim.

He told the court that Owens and the victim had been in a relationship and “bitterly regretted her actions and promised never to do it again”.

Owens, of Greenwood Close, Romsey, was jailed for 20 months suspended for two years after pleading guilty to theft and fraud at an earlier hearing in the same court.