Man jailed for stealing £250,000 from Shrewsbury uncle
Tuesday 24th August 2010, 11:29AM BST.
A 48-year-old man stole more than £250,000 from his elderly Shropshire uncle and spent some of the cash on a Mercedes car and a motor boat, a court heard.
Neville Boyce Ward transferred the cash to his own accounts after being granted Enduring Power of Attorney for Kenneth Covington, a resident in the Radbrook Nursing Home in Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday.
He spent much of the cash over an 18-month period including £31,000 on a Mercedes and £44,000 on a motor boat.
He previously admitted seven charges of theft between April 23, 2007, and October 24, 2008, and was yesterday jailed for three years on each count, to run concurrently.
Judge Robin Onions said that as well as stealing his money Ward had stolen his uncle’s “peace of mind and tranquillity”.
Mr Mark Linkins, prosecuting, said Mr Covington, who is now 89, had moved into the Shropshire nursing home in December 2006 following the death of his wife.
He added: “In October, 2008, Mr Covington’s solicitor was contacted by the care home and said substantial arrears were due. The solicitor challenged Mr Ward as to why payments were overdue and when he didn’t get a satisfactory reply the matter was reported to the police.”
The court heard inquiries revealed Ward, of Northwood, Middlesex, had stolen £257,939 from Mr Covington, of which £60,000 had been returned and £48,573 has been used to pay care home fees and £5,000 had been returned to Ward’s wife, leaving Mr Covington with a net loss of about £144,000.
It is thought about £65,000 may be able to be recovered through the Proceeds of Crime Act.
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