Man stole £480,000 from elderly mother after she moved to care home

Man stole £480,000 from elderly mother after she moved to care home

A man who stole £480,000 from his elderly mother by abusing his power of attorney after she was moved into a care home has been jailed for four years.

Gary Woodley, 66, stole the money from his 89-year-old mother Kathleen Woodley before her death in 2017.

He admitted at Norwich Crown Court to fraud by abuse of position and theft and was sentenced on Thursday, Norfolk Police said.

Woodley, of Norwich Road, Aylsham, got power of attorney for his mother’s financial and property affairs in 2013 when she became unable to manage them herself and was moved into a care home.

His brother, who also got power of attorney in 2013, raised concerns in 2016 after he noticed significant withdrawals of money had been taken from their mother’s bank accounts over a number of years and police were contacted.

Mrs Woodley died during the investigation.

Detective Constable Bridget Milne, from Norfolk Police’s adult abuse investigation unit, said: “Gary Woodley abused the position that he held as power of attorney to his elderly, vulnerable mother.

“Instead of managing the victim’s money in her best interests and providing for her, Woodley used the money very much to further his own lifestyle.”

A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) confiscation hearing will take place at a later date.

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