Woman Defrauded Aunt of £300k to Build Gym in Church

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A 51‑year‑old woman in Glasgow has been convicted of fraud after defrauding her elderly aunt of more than £300,000 to fund the creation of a luxury gym inside a former church, court officials said. Margaret Cassidy misappropriated a total of £317,475 from her 89‑year‑old aunt, Elizabeth Murphy, between December 2020 and January 2022, according to prosecutors.

Cassidy used the vast majority of the stolen funds to renovate the disused St Kenneth’s Church in Linthouse, Glasgow, transforming the Victorian C‑listed building into the Sanctuary Gym. The investment in the gym’s refurbishment and equipment totalled around £164,000, and Cassidy also transferred £101,000 into her own account.

Prosecutors revealed that Murphy had inherited the money after her husband’s death in 2019 and had trusted her niece to manage certain affairs. Cassidy initially spent small amounts on items like £136 yoga pants, before escalating to transfers for fitness equipment and refurbishment costs. Outside of the gym project, she also splurged on designer clothing, casino visits, council tax payments and other personal expenses.

During the trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court, jurors heard that Cassidy even impersonated her aunt in phone calls to secure nearly £90,000 worth of gym equipment from a fitness company, sending a fake email claiming payment was imminent. The equipment was delivered, but the company was never paid.

Cassidy was found guilty of defrauding her aunt and committing fraud against the fitness company. She has been granted bail while awaiting sentencing next month, with a lengthy prison term likely given the scale of the offences. Sheriff Andrew McIntyre emphasised the seriousness of the crimes during the proceedings.

Murphy only recovered just over £4,000 of her money before her death, and her shock at the betrayal was recorded in testimony during the trial. In a police statement, she said she was “in shock” because she had trusted Cassidy to deal with her finances, but “never gave her permission” to withdraw money.

The status of the Sanctuary Gym has since declined, with reports indicating the business is closed and its operating company may be struck off. The case has highlighted concerns about exploitation of vulnerable adults, breaches of trust within families, and the misuse of elderly people’s savings.

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