Pensioner abused power of attorney to steal partner's £105k

Jean Stone, 79, was granted power of attorney for the late Fred Pullman when his illness meant he was no longer able to manage his own affairs.

But instead of looking out for his interests, she and her grandson Robert Warner “cynically and systematically” stole his life-savings to “line their own pockets”.

Stone was found out after a suspicious neighbour witnessed her burning bank statements in the back garden in an attempt to destroy evidence.

The neighbour recovered some of the documentation and showed it to Mr Pullman's son Graham. To his shock the statements indicated his vulnerable father was in debt.

A police investigation showed Stone had made numerous cash withdrawals and cheque payments of up to £10,000 a time from the account.

Much of it was paid into the bank account of Warner to cover his outgoings.

The pensioner admitted theft and fraud offences and was jailed for 18 months by a judge after he had been told the money was gone.

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Stone lived with Mr Pullman at his home in the village of Gussage St Michael, near Wimborne.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard that she was granted power of attorney over Mr Pullman's financial affairs in 2010.

The case was heard at Bournemouth Crown Court

The offending lasted for four years until the police became involved.

Jonathan Underhill, prosecuting, said: "This was the cynical and deliberate manipulation and exploitation of a vulnerable gentleman who, by the end of his life, was suffering with dementia to the extent that he was no longer capable of managing his own financial affairs.

"Police identified systematic withdrawal of his savings and pension payments through debit card use, cash withdrawals and cheque payments.

"Those transactions were facilitated by Miss Stone and predominantly paid to Mr Warner in many cases.

"All in all £105,000 was systematically drained from his accounts.

"Neither of the defendants had any legitimate claim to the money they used, they did not have the permission of Mr Pullman and certainly were not using the money in such a way as to be in his best interest.

"It is not clear how much was left in his accounts, but it was very little."

The court heard that Warner spent some of Mr Pullman's money on paying his Sky TV and mobile phone bills, and an insurance policy. He also spent nearly £2,000 of it on a new shotgun.

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One illicit transaction saw Stone cash in £6,000 Premium Bonds in Mr Pullman's name which she claimed would be spent on home improvements for him. Instead the money was used to cover a cheque to herself.

The court heard there had been a six-year delay between Stone being interviewed by police and charged, partly due to the defendant's lack of cooperation.

Richard Wyman, representing Stone, said his elderly client was of previous good character and had several medical conditions.

He also said she was 'struggling to come to terms with her own offending'.

Judge Simon Carr told Stone: "You pleaded guilty very late in proceedings and consistently denied your offending and sought to blame others for what you had done.

"You have continued perversely to see yourself as some sort of victim, you are not.

"Power of attorney is an important document that brings with it enormous responsibilities ensuring those monies are used in a way that benefits the owner. It is not an opportunity to solve family or personal finances.

"What you did was systematically, and repeatedly over a significant period of time, fraudulently remove over £100,000.

"This has been a complex investigation not least because of your denial and attempts to destroy information.

"You have shown no remorse and no empathy for those that have lost.

"There is no possibility of the monies being recovered. The effect on his family is two-fold; the disbelief that somebody who purported to care for him could treat him in that way, and the loss of the estate to the family."

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He said despite Stone's age and health conditions, only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate for the 'wholesale defrauding' and sentenced her to 18 months in prison.

Her grandson Robert Warner, 33, of Andover, Hampshire, was also due to be sentenced but failed to attend court. A warrant for his arrest was issued.

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