Saturday, June 12, 2010

Move To Cheaper Nursing Home Probable For 82-Year Old Woman After Niece's Hubby Forged POA That Led To £200,000+ Ripoff

In St Albans, Hertfordshire (UK), The Jewish Chronicle reports:
  • A 59-year-old man who forged a legal document to obtain thousands of pounds of his elderly relative's savings has been jailed for three years. The fraudulent document made by Malcolm Laster, of Edgware, gave him control of more than £200,000 belonging to his wife's aunt, 82-year-old Sadie Joseph.

  • Over a two-year period Laster spent £218,208 on holidays to America and gifts for friends and family, St Albans Crown Court heard. The former taxi driver even paid for haircuts for friends, while saving cash by cancelling Mrs Joseph's own hair appointments at the Sunrise Care Home in Elstree.

  • Laster was married to Mrs Joseph's niece Shirley, but she was too ill with motor neurone disease to accept power of attorney over her aunt's affairs. She died two years ago. Mrs Joseph has been left with just £10,000 and will probably have to move to a cheaper care home.

For the story, see Cabbie stole £200,000 of aunt's savings.