Son Jailed For Nicking £80K From His Elderly Mum

A son with power of attorney, who stole £80,000 from his ailing mother, was locked-up yesterday after being reported to police by his brother.

Retired plumber Adrian Hilton, 65, controlled mother Glenys’ money following the sale of her house to fund £660 per week care home costs, but failed to pay those bills.

Yesterday, at Woolwich Crown Court Hilton received two years and eight months imprisonment as wife Jane, who has stood by him during six years of criminal proceedings, and other family members looked on.

He fought the allegations for years, but on day one of his trial Hilton, of Pleasance Road, Orpington pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by abuse of position between July 20, 2017 and July 11, 2019.

The court heard Hilton was left in legal control of £198,958 following the sale of his mother’s home in January, 2017.

She feared being booted out of her care home and becoming homeless as a result of her son’s dishonest behaviour.

Lewisham council picked up the tab for her stay at The Swallows, Catford, owned by Raj Selvanandan, who says he is still owed £45,631 and the local authority itself paid £47,619 for Mrs Hilton’s care.

He spent the money on credit card bills, DFS furniture, a payment to Exeter University and when applying for a joint mortgage with his daughter claimed he had a £100,000 cash deposit.

“You used that money as your own in gross breach of trust and your position as power of attorney,” Judge Martin Yale told him. “You purchased items for yourself.

“The proceeds of your mother’s house were depleted, leaving her with nothing and there was a loss of eighty thousand pounds as a result of your fraud.

“You put her place at the care home at risk and the council had to step in to continue paying the fees.”

“You claimed you had your mother’s permission to spend the money and that she had given you a loan of fifty thousand pounds, but she denied any such thing.”

Sadly, Mrs Hilton passed away during the criminal proceedings, but not before making a victim impact statement.

“She said she was worried about her future, given the money was lost and having thought she was financially sound,” continued Judge Yale.

“She was unsettled by the council letters she received and the prospect of being evicted from the care home, leaving her homeless.

“You were in a position of trust and responsibility and abused that deliberately and took advantage of your mother’s vulnerability.

“Your remorse is undermined by your denials in the pre-sentence report in which you continued to deny any dishonesty.”

Prosecutor Matt Ward told the court Mrs Hilton moved into the care home in June, 2014, with Lewisham council covering the costs until her home was sold.

“The defendant took charge of his mother’s finances and when her property was sold the proceeds were paid into his bank account.

“From that point he used his mother’s money as his own, using eighty thousand pounds for his own benefit. He used his mother’s money to pay his debts.”

Hilton transferred £78,000 to a joint bank account he had with wife Jane, £2,600 was spent at DFS and money went on other bills.

“The proceeds were depleted, leaving his mother with nothing,” added Mr Ward. “The actions have caused a loss to The Swallows and there is an outstanding balance.

“He told the care home owner he was awaiting the sale of his mother’s home when it had already been sold.

“The defendant’s brother Mark looked into his mother’s finances and saw Mr Hilton was spending money and reported him to the police.”

Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings will follow in an attempt to confiscate any remaining money from Hilton, who was last in trouble four decades ago for shoplifting and handling stolen goods.

“He has had this hanging over his head for a considerable period of time,” said Danny Barnard, defending. “He was first arrested in 2019.

“The references describe him as a kind, caring, loving grandfather to his grandchildren, who adore him and he is a positive influence on them.”

Hilton had a triple heart bypass in 2022 and was recently hospitalised with cardiac issues.

“These proceedings have taken a physical and mental toll on him and he is in a fragile state of mind.

“Incarceration may jeopardise his health, his access to medication and exacerbate his stress and anxiety.

“He fully intends to pay these debts. The property he has available for sale will cover the debts.”

Judge Yale announced: “It is certainly taking advantage extreme vulnerability. He has plainly taken advantage of a vulnerable victim, his own mother.

“He also seems to be maintaining that there was a loan and he felt he could borrow money and in the pre-sentence report says there was an absence of dishonesty.

“The guilty plea isn’t exactly heartfelt and was made at the suggestion of his solicitor.

“This was highly dishonest, selfish and a breach of your duty with power of attorney,” the Judge told Hilton. “When your mother needed you the most, you betrayed her.”