Turvey cancer patient defrauded stepfather out of shares and money

A woman has been convicted of fraud after taking £386,000 from her elderly stepfather.

Geraldine Skevington-Roberts, 69, from Mill Green, Turvey, close to Bedford, was found guilty of two charges of fraud by abuse of position.

She was said to have used her power of attorney over Donald Skevington's affairs to "enrich herself".

The woman, who has a stage four cancer diagnosis, was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for 12 months.

Judge Ross Johnson told her: "Serious offending of this nature ordinarily would merit immediate custody, given the breach of trust, age and vulnerability of the victim, but there are exceptionally strong personal mitigation features in the form of your medical health."

Prosecutor Andrew Price told Luton Crown Court Mr Skevington had been living in a care home and before he died, aged 94 in October 2021, the defendant's sister realised large amounts of money had gone, and contacted the police.

Mr Price said the defendant cashed in £143,000 of the man's shares and made £243,000 from bank transfers.

"It is suspected money was moved overseas for a property, which is corroborated by the defendant opening a bank account in Slovakia," Mr Price said.

Money was also spent on Amazon, travel, health and beauty. Finance with BMW had been cleared and a large amount went to a debt recovery company, he said.

There were also payments for gym membership and purchases at TK Maxx.

On 7 March 2019, when Mr Skevington's assets were dissipated, the defendant signed a disclaimer meaning she no longer had legal power of attorney - a position she had held since October 2017.

Skevington-Roberts told the jury she felt "sad and betrayed" when the police were contacted by her sister.

"It came out of the blue. I did not know why my sister had done this to me," she said.

She claimed that Mr Skevington said he wanted her to have the money.

Defence barrister David Walbank KC said, that when she was arrested, the bulk of the money was still sitting in her accounts.

"There was no evidence she was to grab it all for herself and leave him penniless," he said. "She was continuing to spend the money on his behalf."

Earlier this week, the judge ruled Skevington-Roberts had no case to answer on a charge that she abused her position to buy Mr Skevington's home - Todsbrook House in Turvey.

He already said he would pass a suspended jail sentence because of her "exceptional health issues".

Mr Price said there would be a confiscation hearing at a later date.

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