Bromley (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Orpington plumber Adrian Hilton stole £80,000 from his elderly mother in Bromley, abusing trust in a shocking case of family financial theft.
Last Wednesday, August 27, Adrian Hilton, 65, of Pleasance Road, appeared at Woolwich Crown Court in Bromley and was given a sentence of two years and eight months in jail.
His mother, Glenys, expressed her concern that she may be left homeless if her money was stolen in a declaration she wrote prior to her death.
Judge Martin Yale, who sentenced Hilton, said:
“At the time when your mother needed you most, you betrayed her.”
According to the court, Hilton was named his mother’s power of attorney following her admission to The Swallows care facility in Catford in 2014.
Lewisham Council initially paid for her expenses until 2017, when an investigation by the Council revealed she had the money.
According to the court, Hilton subsequently sold her house and moved the £198,000 equity into his personal account.
He used about £80,000 for his own purposes, but the majority of that money was then used for his mother’s justifiable costs.
He utilized the funds to settle debts and make a number of other purchases for himself over the course of about two years.
The court heard that during this time he also applied for a mortgage for a house with his daughter, claiming to have a deposit of £100,000.
“This was highly dishonest, selfish and in direct breach of your power of attorney,”
Judge Yale said.
“You ultimately depleted her finances, leaving her with nothing.”
Hilton racked up £45,000 of debt with the care home and a further £47,000 with Lewisham Council, who stepped in to pay the care home when he couldn’t.
The full scale of the fraud was revealed when it was discovered by his brother, who reported it to the police.
Judge Yale said:
“When you were arrested you claimed you had your mother’s permission to spend the money and she had given you a loan of £50,000.
She was spoken to by the police and she denied any such thing. Your mum provided a victim impact statement. She’s described as being very emotional about the situation.
She was worried about the future due to the money she lost. Having worked all her life she didn’t think she would have to worry about her care home fees being paid.
She was worried about being evicted from the care home which would leave her homeless, despite received assurances she continued to worry.”
Even after hearing Hilton’s “powerful” mitigation, Judge Yale determined that only a prison term was appropriate.
Which Bromley authorities investigated the alleged theft?
As Bromley is part of Greater London, the Metropolitan Police would be the primary law enforcement agency responsible for investigating crimes such as theft and financial abuse. This is the local division of the Metropolitan Police serving the Bromley area, which would handle the on-the-ground investigation.
Given the victim is elderly, local safeguarding adults teams in Bromley Council would coordinate to ensure the victim’s protection and may collaborate with police on abuse or exploitation investigations.
Specialist teams within the police or council may be involved if the theft includes fraudulent financial transactions requiring forensic accounting.