Ashfield man who swindled £46,000 out of his dementia-suffering mother spared prison

Paul Radford appeared before Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday, September 9 after admitting theft charges which date back to 2018.

The court heard that Radford’s mother had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2016 and moved into sheltered accommodation in Nuncar Court, Sutton.

As part of her care package, Radford, 45, of Arden Close, Hucknall, assumed responsibility for her finances, said Kevin Jones, prosecuting.

He told the court that the defendant had agreed to deposit £50 per week in cash in a pill box for her carers to buy her groceries, as it was felt that she may lose any money given directly to her.

He said: “Care staff described her as very confused and forgetful, and on August 13, 2018, her son told her that he had spent all of her money to pay off some debts. On August 22, care staff were not able to take her shopping because there was no money left for her, but she had some food so they were not concerned.

“On August 29, carers went to see her and found her in the street and she was upset and confused, and she said that she was looking for her son because he had taken all of her money.”

Radford initially told carers that his mother had become confused, but when it was discovered that the elderly woman only had £6 in her bank account, Social Services were brought in and police launched an investigation, the court heard.

It emerged that Radford had transferred an ISA and drained her savings to the value of £46,232.88.

Additionally, he had taken £600 in pension payments and had left her owing £820 in rent, £500 in utility debts and £800 in council tax, leaving the victim destitute and reliant on food banks.

He initially told police that he had taken the money with his mother's consent and blessing, but when prosecutors changed charges from fraud to theft, Radford admitted the offences, the court heard.

Mitigating, Richard Gibbs said Radford was a sole carer, and urged Judge John Burgess to suspend the inevitable prison sentence.

Sentencing, Judge Burgess said that if he hadn’t been a carer he would be going to prison.

"I do hope that you are ashamed of yourself,” he added.

Radford was given a 19-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.

He must also complete 15 rehabilitation activity days with the Probation Service.

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