A woman blew £50,000 of her dementia-stricken father's savings which was supposed to pay his care home fees.
Alison Carson told a social worker she'd spent all the money and resorted to buying scratch cards in a desperate bid to "win it back". A sheriff warned today that she could be jailed, saying it was “shocking “ that the woman insists she did nothing wrong.
Carson, 53, of Shotts, Lanarkshire, admitted embezzling the cash between August 2016 and February 2018.
Airdrie Sheriff Court heard that she was appointed welfare and financial guardian for her dad, Hugh McMath, when he developed dementia.
He lived in Airdrie, but she struggled to look after him there and he moved to the town's Rawyards Care Home in October 2015.
It was determined that he had enough savings to pay for his care, but funds couldn't be accessed until August the following year when Carson was appointed guardian. In the meantime, North Lanarkshire Council paid the care home fees.
Lauren Cole, prosecuting, said that at some point after getting access to the money Carson offered to pay the council £30,000 that was owed. Due to an issue with the council's system, this could not be done at that time.
Mrs Cole told the court: "In February 2018, a council social work officer informed the accused the outstanding balance was now about £51,000.
"Ms Carson told her she had spent all the money, saying matters had spiralled out of control, she had a lot of debt and had been buying scratch cards to try to win back the money. She also said it was ok because her father was insured."
The court heard Carson was obliged as guardian to keep records regarding her father's money, but had failed to produce receipts and invoices. It emerged she had paid for his haircuts and chiropody treatment, but there was no evidence that she had spent significant sums on his needs.
Instead, police found "numerous suspicious transactions" involving shops including Ikea and Mothercare. Mr McMath died aged 87 in September 2018. His insurance company covered the fees due to the council.
Defence agent Gavin Lawson said Carson had bought clothing, furniture and furnishings for her dad, but acknowledged this "did not come close" to the sum embezzled. Mr Lawson stated: "This is a cautionary tale to all those admitted to the role of guardian."
He said his client's health has "suffered terribly because of this series of events" and now has terminal cancer. The solicitor added: “She was devoted to her dad and cared deeply for him. I believe she spent a lot of money on him but her record keeping was poor.”
He said Carson could pay compensation to Aviva Insurance as she is due to inherit money from the sale of her father’s home.
Sheriff Joseph Hughes deferred sentence until June for proof of her medical condition and warned Carson prison could not be ruled out.
The sheriff told her: "Not only is there a breach of the trust between daughter and father, but in your publicly-appointed role as welfare and financial guardian you have committed a most serious breach of trust.
“I was shocked to read in the criminal justice social work report that you insist you did nothing wrong. You are adamant that your dad said you could spend his money. When you return to court you should be prepared for a possible prison sentence.”
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