Real estate agent jailing after leaving elderly woman destitute

A real estate agent who befriended an elderly client and stole almost $100,000 to fund a lavish lifestyle of high-end fashion, beauty treatments, electronic devices and meals has learned her fate just weeks out from welcoming her second child.

Pregnant mother of-one Hayley Philpot, 29, was sentenced to three months' jail this week after she pleaded guilty to a charge of obtaining an enduring power of attorney to obtain financial advantage.

Shocking details about the theft, which funded dozens of elaborate shopping sprees and left her victim struggling to make ends meet, were laid bare in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.

Philpot was working as an agent at Savoy Real Estate Yarra Glen in 2019 when she met her female victim, 80, who wanted to sell her home.

The court heard Philpot helped with the sale and then assisted the woman and her husband in relocating to a nursing home, the Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader reported. 

Former real estate agent Hayley Philpot was sentenced just weeks before giving birth to her second child

Philpot was granted power of attorney and then wiped $98,844 from the woman's bank account over a 15-month period up until August 2021, the court heard.

The court heard Philpot blew the stolen funds on a wide range of purchases ranging from an Apple iPhone and a MacBook, hair and beauty treatments and Deliveroo orders, to Uber rides, car repairs, meals out, movie tickets and pet accessories.

The stolen proceeds also funded spending sprees at JB Hi-Fi, Kmart, Bunnings, Kookai, Zara, restaurants and bottle shops.

The victim eventually discovered the money was missing from her account and engaged a lawyer.

The missing funds were then reported to police, which resulted in Philpot's arrest in February 2022.

The court heard Philpot claimed she took the money because her brother needed $40,000 to pay off a 'bikie gang debt'.

Prosecutors told the court Philpot exploited the vulnerability of her elderly victim, who had no family support and was supporting her elderly husband with dementia.

'This is the most egregious breach of the [power of attorney] provision,' the prosecution submitted.

'Trust was a critical element… the victim, she will not financially recover from this… our community needs to be able to trust our system of attorneys.'

Magistrate David Starvaggi described the thefts as 'one of the most severe examples of a breach of trust'.

Philpot was ordered to repay the $68,844.80 still owed, in addition to the three-month jail sentence. 

She left Savoy Real Estate Yarra Glen in 2020 and since has worked for several other real estate agencies.

Philpot described herself on LinkedIn as experienced sales agent with a demonstrated history of working in the real estate industry.

She lists her current role as a freelance buyers advocate 'in and around Melbourne, anything from luxury homes to standard properties'.

Court records inspected by Daily Mail Australia said that, had she not pleaded guilty, Philpot would have been hit with a five month jail sentence.

She has 45 days to pay the remaining funds she owes in compensation.