Heather Noble denies conning her mother out of £40,000 20 May 2013 Last updated at 16:58 A woman allegedly stole more than £40,000 from her elderly mother by forging her signature on cheques, Belfast Crown Court has been told. Heather Ruth Noble, from Aughnabrack Road, north Belfast, denies two charges of theft, two of forgery and a further seven of fraud by false representation. The court heard the alleged fraud began shortly after the accused moved in with her mother to help take care of her. Her mother, Johnina Noble, was 78 or 79 years old at the time. The pensioner has since died, but the jury was told that a police statement made by her would be read to them during the course of the trial. Opening the trial, a prosecution lawyer said it was the Crown case that at no time did the 49-year-old defendant have her mother's permission to sign her name on the cheques. Hospitalised He said the alleged fraudulent behaviour took place between July 2006 and August 2008. The prosecution lawyer added that the indictment related to 32 cheques, allegedly forged by the daughter, which amounted to a total of £41,000. The court heard that shortly after moving in to her mother's house on the Aughnbrack Road, the defendant bought the property from her for the agreed sum of £100,000 - less £18,000 for an outstanding mortgage. The transaction left the pensioner with £82,000 and allowed her to live out the rest of her days in her former home with her daughter. However, the prosecution lawyer said the fraud began when Johnina Noble was hospitalised between July and November 2006. He told the jury that evidence and exhibits would prove the defendant had written a £5,000 cheque to a kitchen company, £3,000 to clear a credit card debt and a £2,000 cheque to herself in that period. Forgery admission He added that all 32 cheques "had been signed dishonestly and without permission." The court heard that when Heather Noble was arrested and questioned about the matter, she admitted forging her mother's signature but had claimed it was done with her mother's permission and full knowledge. The prosecution lawyer added that in her police statement Johnina Noble had contested her daughter's claim and "denied all knowledge" of the cheques. He said the pensioner also denied ever having a credit card or giving her daughter permission to sign her name.