NHS Money Man Nicked Almost £50K From Dementia Mum

Money: John-Baptiste

An NHS finance manager who nicked nearly £50,000 from from his dementia-suffering mother claims his ex is blocking compensation by refusing to sell their marital home.

Peter John-Baptiste, 54, insists former wife Margaret Sulmanis, 52, the mother of their two daughters, would rather see him in prison or dead so she can inherit the Harrow property.

Today at Isleworth Crown Court he received eighteen months imprisonment, suspended for two years and must obey an electronically-tagged night time curfew for three months.

However, John-Baptiste, who suffered a stroke earlier this year, was warned if he does not comply with Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings he faces being locked-up.

He pleaded guilty to stealing £48,332.25 from Muriel John-Baptiste, 74, between December 1, 2015 and September 14, 2016, while caring for her at her Trellick Tower flat in Golborne Road, North Kensington.

“You pleaded guilty to a disgraceful offence of theft. You stole a large amount from her and it was a mean, selfish offence,” Judge Robin Johnson told him.

“You say it was because you were drinking and taking drugs. The public and I am appalled.

Ex: Margaret Sulmanis

“Even though I am passing a suspended sentence does not mean you will not go to prison if you don’t pay the money. This was a mean, nasty offence.”

John-Baptiste’s marital home in Dudley Gardens is currently on the market for £480,000, but he claims his wife, who works for City property lawyers, has successfully blocked three sales.

“The court has to determine if he has been thwarted by a lady who continues to live in the house and prevent sales to other parties,” said Mr. Tim Devlin, defending.

“She said frankly she does not care if he went to prison and if he made a fuss he would have another stroke and a heart attack and die and she would inherit it.

“She has received an inheritance and has another property and intends to rent this property once Mr. John-Baptiste goes to prison. 

“He’d like to repay the money and the house has had three offers on it, but his ex-wife has refused to accept any offers and has come here today to see Mr. John-Baptiste go to prison.”

Ms Sulmanis told the court she will received 53.75% of any sale profits, explaining: “It has to be a decent offer.

For Sale: Harrow House

“I still need to find a property for our two girls. I’m not going to accept anything.”

They have a 21 year-old daughter at university and a 16 year-old.

She denied telling her ex she would inherit the house if he had another stroke and died.

The theft was exposed when John-Baptiste’s sister noticed money was missing from their mother’s bank account and the defendant admitted he had taken the sums.

“His mother was suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s while he looked after her and he was in a bad state, getting divorced from your partner of twenty years,” said Mr. Devlin.

“He was abusing alcohol and crack. It was a shocking thing to do to his mother and all he can say if he was not his normal self.”