A Weston woman who claimed to have dementia and frauded Hertfordshire County Council out of £600,000 before fleeing to Berlin to avoid prison, is "believed to have died", a court has heard.

Frances Noble, 66, was jailed in her absence for four years and nine months in June last year in what the judge said was "possibly the largest fraud of its type to come before the English courts".

But, Noble was not put behind bars having fled to Berlin, and although extradition proceedings to bring her back from Germany began in December, St Albans Crown Court was told on Tuesday that she is believed to be dead.

A hearing against her has now been adjourned for evidence of her death to be produced.

The 66-year-old was sentenced alongside her daughter Laura, and son-in-law Philip Borrell, who all lived in Damask Green Road, Weston.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Laura and Philip Borrell.Laura and Philip Borrell. (Image: Archant)

Laura, 45, was jailed for three years and nine months, while Philip, 47, was jailed for four years and three months, with both pleading guilty to money laundering.

Between 2005 and 2018, Noble convinced Herts County Council that she required intensive round-the-clock home care at her then bungalow in Datchworth due dementia, obtaining £624,047 during the 13-year period.

But, she was seen by her neighbours walking her dog, filmed walking around her back garden, and spotted by investigators unpacking a Tesco home delivery on her own.

Prosecutor Andrew Johnson said when one neighbour saw Noble in her back garden she pulled a hood over her face and said: "I am not Frances. I am her carer."

On another occasion, supposedly bed-ridden Noble was seen being pushed in a wheelchair by her daughter around the Bluewater Shopping Centre, and was filmed eating in a restaurant despite claiming to be on a liquid diet.

A care worker also turned up at her home to find her standing up, naked in the bathroom, washing her hair.

The Borrells even deceived ITV’s This Morning show, telling Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that Noble was one of the youngest people ever to have dementia at 39-years-old.

The three had moved to Germany after the investigation began, but Laura and Philip are behind bars and are both due in court for the proceeds of crime hearing on Thursday.