Facing jail, the son who fleeced dementia victim mum of her life-savings
AN ADOPTED son who plundered his dementia-suffering mother’s lifesavings has been warned he faces jail after being convicted of fraud.
Ian Leonard, 53, pocketed £90,000 in proceeds when he sold the 90-yearold woman’s house and bought a cheaper property in his name, a court heard.
He had the power of attorney over Ada Leonard – and would not pay £10 a week for a hairdo, saying it was unnecessary as she would not remember she’d had it. Leonard, of Harpenden, Herts, refused to pay towards her upkeep, running up £38,000 in unpaid fees, St Albans Crown Court heard.
He fleeced her bank accounts the day she was admitted to a care home and sold her home in Wheathampstead, Herts, for £261,000, buying a cheaper flat in his sole name which he then rented out.
He claimed that he was in dispute over who should pay care fees and wanted to prevent his mother’s assets being “seized”.
Leonard denied fraud by abusing his position as a power of attorney by selling his mother’s Victorian semi in May 2013. He also denied converting criminal proceeds, using £177,808 of the £261,110 realised to buy a first floor flat the following month. Leonard and his sister had joint power of attorney from October 2012.
He claimed both property deals were joint decisions and he did not act dishonestly. But Leonard had earlier pleaded guilty to four other charges of fraud totalling £91,786 including spending £1,000 on bar tabs, £3,000 on unsuccessfully defending a drinkdriving charge and an American trip
He also transferred almost £30,000 of his mother’s money into a failed pyramid scheme, the court heard.
Giving prosecution evidence, Jennifer Turner, Leonard’s sister, said her brother told her the sale proceeds would go to care fees and buying the flat was an investment.
Abuse
She agreed to both received no money.
He later told her the flat was bought in his sole name “by accident”. The Court of Protection has since removed Leonard as power of attorney.
Mrs Leonard had been placed in a care home by the county council after she was found wandering in September 2012. Deby O’Hare, then manager deals. She of Houndswood House Care Home in Radlett, said Mrs Leonard enjoyed her weekly hair appointments.
But she told the jury: “Mr Leonard said as she had dementia she wouldn’t know the difference if she had her hair done weekly or monthly.” She added that Leonard also “flatly refused to replace his mother’s slippers”.
Mrs Leonard is now living in a different care home but it is understood the outstanding fees have still not been paid.
Leonard claimed that he had “lost the plot” during 2013 because of his mother's condition and his marriage breakdown.
He said: “I was borrowing money, not stealing. I didn’t intend to steal from her. I am eternally sorry for what happened to her money.”
Recorder Leslie Cuthbert adjourned sentence until August 21 and released Leonard on bail. He warned him custody was almost inevitable. He said: “It was a huge abuse of trust.”