Care home fees went unpaid as Grayrigg pensioner committed fraud

Eighty-year-old John Albert Longley became power of attorney for his sibling’s property and financial affairs in January, 2013. In that position, Longley, of Dobs Hole Farm, Grayrigg, was expected to safeguard and not act against her interests.

But Carlisle Crown Court heard that during a period of almost seven years, to December, 2019, he abused that trusted power of attorney role.

When he appeared in front of a judge, Longley admitted one charge of fraud having acted dishonestly intending that a gain should be made.

His guilty plea was entered on a formal written basis which was read into the court record and shone some light on the offending.

“In 2014, my son Simon opened a bar. I accept that I invested in that bar and ultimately it failed,” the pensioner stated. “I was unable to recoup the funds. When the bar fell into financial difficulty I continued to provide money rather than cut off funding.

“As a result, the care home fees began to go unpaid although I did make some attempts to try and pay when I could. I am deeply ashamed of my actions and bitterly regret the decisions I made.”

No value was given in court for the fraud but it is said to run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Adjourning the case, Judge Nicholas Barker told Longley he had been in a “position of great responsibility” which gave him overall control of his sister’s finances. “You abused that for whatever reason although it seems to me you believed at the time it was a good reason. It was, nevertheless, an abuse and that’s a serious matter,” said the judge.

He ordered the preparation of a probation service pre-sentence report. Longley was told his unconditional bail would continue, and he is due to be sentenced at the crown court on January 21.

“The fact I am adjourning sentence, John Longley, should not be taken as an indication of what the sentence will be. All sentencing options are open given the size of the fraud in this case,” added Judge Barker.