A FLINT mum whose daughter took out a £10,000 loan in her name has spoken of her heartbreak in a Channel 5 documentary.

The second episode of Robbing Your Relatives: Families At War aired on November 13 and featured - among others - the story of Flint pensioner Muriel Hughes.

Last year the Leader reported how Mrs Hughes' daughter Michelle, then 52 and also of Flint, admitted at Mold Crown Court that she had made a false representation to Sainsbury’s Bank plc that her mother wished to take out a £10,000 personal loan.

In the show Muriel Hughes and her 47-year-old son Paul retell the events leading up to the court hearing, including how Paul and Michelle had promised to look after their mother when their father had died in 2011.

The Leader:

Muriel Hughes and son Paul Hughes of Flint

Paul had moved in with his mother to care for her and Michelle had taken on responsibility of her finances, the documentary explains.

Mr Hughes explained: "In 2015/16, we were looking into a grant for an extension for my mum because of her condition - she can't climb the stairs because of her arthritis, Parkinson's and COPD.

"We received a letter from Flintshire Council saying they couldn't go ahead."

As the Leader reported last year, it emerged that a £10,000 loan had been taken out in Muriel Hughes' name with Sainsbury’s Bank without her knowledge.

She and her son visited the HSBC bank and discovered what had gone on, before deciding to involve the police.

An investigation uncovered recordings of phone calls with a broker who arranged the loan.

Muriel Hughes was invited to listen to them by North Wales Police.

The Leader:

Michelle Hughes

In the documentary she said: "I have never been to a police station in my life and he played me this recording and said 'is that your voice'? I said no. That's Michelle pretending to be me."

DC David Hall said in the programme: "It was clear to me listening that even the voice didn't sound like someone who would be Muriel's age.

"She (Michelle) said Muriel knew everything about what was going on and had authorised that Michelle would do it on her behalf, and that she was borrowing the money to Michelle and Paul jointly.

"The question for me was; if Muriel knew what was going on, why in these telephone conversations when you were asked who you were - why you never said 'I am Muriel's daughter dealing with it on her behalf'.

"When I asked her that, the answer was no comment."

The documentary explains how Michelle Hughes was initially charged with conspiring to commit fraud by false representation for two loans, but one of the charges was discontinued when her mother chose not to give evidence.

Having admitted the charge relating to the Sainsbury's loan, she was convicted to 18 months imprisonment, which was suspended for two years - and was handed a five years restraining order preventing her from approaching her mother and brother.

Muriel Hughes said in the documentary: "I felt sick, what she'd done to me.

"When she was a child I never thought she'd turn out like this, do this to me.

"I couldn't go into the court. I didn't want to face them.

"I trusted her. How could you do that to your own mother?

"I'd never forgive Michelle. She's no daughter of mine now. I don't want her at my funeral when I go.

"It's an awful thing to say but it's how I feel."

Paul Hughes told the programme his sister still lived in Flint, stating: "It's difficult, living so close.

"It's stopped my mum going out many a time.

"When I found out, I was very angry.

"It's betrayal beyond words. I feel disgusted about the sentence the judge gave her to be honest, I'd have put her in jail and kept her there."

Craig Kelly, who narrated the documentary, added: "Michelle claims she took good care of her mum and only changed plea to guilty to protect her.

"She says she has now paid £5,000 to Sainsburys and has been making weekly payments to them as well. She maintains Muriel knew about the loans and has nothing to apologise for."