A former Co-operative bank director and local councillor has been jailed after previously admitting to defrauding an elderly woman from Amersham.
Paul Flowers, 74, of Brattice Drive, Swinton, withdrew cash and paid for goods and services from a friend’s bank account both before and after she died.
He pleaded guilty to 18 counts of fraud by abuse of position in July last year and was jailed for three years at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, February 27.
Jayne Sharp, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Paul Flowers appeared to be a pillar of the community as a former Methodist minister, local councillor and bank director. However, the trust and confidence Ms Jarvis had in Flowers when she named him as executor of her will and gave him power of attorney was sorely misplaced.
“He carried out a systematic fraud over a period of six years, seemingly motivated by his darker side; in particular, his addiction to class A drugs. Flowers stole a significant sum of money from his friend, with no thought for her, her family or the charities she had chosen to support after her death.
“He will now face the consequences of his actions.”
In 1995, Margaret Jarvis arranged for her trusted friend, Paul Flowers, to have power of attorney over her finances if she became unable to manage her own affairs and he was also named as executor in her will.
Ms Jarvis’ health had deteriorated and in November 2012, the power of attorney took effect and Flowers took control of her financial affairs. He paid for various things with her money including theatre trips, wine and even a cruise.
Ms Jarvis died on October 28, 2016 aged 82 and Flowers continued taking money from her estate following her death.
Flower’s fraudulent transactions came to light when the Co-operative bank was requested to repay an overpayment of Ms Jarvis’ pension as Flowers had failed to inform them of her death.
During the investigation that followed, it came to light there were transactions that did not appear to be for the benefit of Ms Jarvis. The account was blocked, and the police investigation began.
Photo credit: Greater Manchester Police Facebook / Stephen Richards
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