Son faces losing family home after dying father ‘cruelly betrayed’ by pal
AHEARTBROKEN son who faces losing the home he shared with his parents says his dying father was “cruelly betrayed” by the best friend who fleeced him out of £60,000.
Richard Elliott fears he will have to move out of his bungalow in Cardiff after his father signed it over to his rugby friend, Graeme Prance.
Struggling businessman Prance was found guilty of dishonestly “helping himself” to the savings of his friend of 35 years, Ken Elliott, after being granted Power of Attorney over his finances.
Ken’s son – bachelor Richard, 54 – said: “I lived in the bungalow with my mum and dad – it’s full of happy memories.
“There is no way my father would have given it away if he was in a right frame of mind.”
A court heard Prance and Mr Elliott senior were close friends for 35 years due to their shared love of rugby.
The pair were huge Cardiff Blues fans and rarely missed a home game and sometimes travelled to away fixtures.
Prance – a founder member of the side’s supporters’ club – told the jury at his trial he was “like a son” to Mr Elliott who gave him Power of Attorney when he was diagnosed with kidney failure.
Richard said: “I regarded him as a close friend which is why this has been so hard to take.
“I had no idea that my father had signed the bungalow over to him. I only found out from Prance on the day he died.
“Then I was told Prance had been arrested for taking my father’s money which should be my money now.”
The court heard £14,575 was dishonestly taken from the Mr Elliott’s Post Office account, £25,469 from his current account, and £9,550 from a NatWest account along with £10,000 cash in a shoebox.
Kitchen fitter Prance, 53, claimed all the withdrawals were carried out with his close friend’s authority but the jury failed to believe him .
He admitted hiring a solicitor for Mr Elliott to change his will on his deathbed, but claimed he was carrying out his friend’s wishes.
Former charity worker Richard, who is being treated for long-term anxiety problems, couldn’t face Prance in court and gave evidence by videolink.
He said: “I didn’t want to be in the same room as him after what he’s done. I feel as if I’ve been cruelly betrayed.
“The verdict in the case is good news for me but bad news for him.
“I don’t care if he goes to prison. I won’t shed any tears – he’s brought this upon himself.”
Judge Patrick Curran said all sentencing options were open after a jury took two hours to find Prance guilty of four charges of fraud.
The trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Richard Elliott has launched civil proceedings challenging his father’s will and claiming the retired businessman didn’t make adequate provisions for him.
Richard has lived in the £212,000 bungalow in Cyncoed rent-free for the last two years while the fraud case came to court.
Churchgoer Richard said: “Prance told me I can stay until it all gets sorted out but said I should then find a small flat for myself. He either wants to sell it or put the bungalow up for rent – all he cares about is money.
“But this place is all I have left of my parents. I’m not giving up without a fight.”
Prance, of Llandaff, Cardiff, is due to be sentenced for fraud next month, while Mr Elliott’s will is expected to be contested in the county court later in the year.