A crooked Renfrew woman embezzled almost £50k from her frail 90-year-old mother.
Twisted Margaret Bolland swindled £48,193.49 from her mother’s bank accounts between November 2014 and January 2019.
Bolland, of Afton Drive, was granted power of attorney over her mother Mary Bolland’s finances in September 2014, and alarm bells started ringing within the family when Mary received a letter from a debt collector.
The wicked 62-year-old stole cash from her elderly mother’s savings account and her Halifax ISA amongst others.
Prosecutor Jason Stark explained to Paisley Sheriff Court Mary Bolland has three children, a son named Gerald and two daughters, Ann and the accused.
In September 2014, power of attorney was granted to Ann and Margaret to provide support to Mary due to her “physical incapacity.”
The court heard Mary Bolland had four accounts in her name with Bank of Scotland that were a rewards current account, a savers rewards account a classic vantage account and a Halifax ISA.
Mr Stark explained: “From September 2014 to January 2019, the accused acted as the sole person of full financial control as the only person to have access to the relevant cards and means of access to Mary’s accounts.”
Mr Stark explained how in October 2018, Gerald was informed by his mother that she had received a letter in the post from a debt collector.
Mr Stark said: “A letter from Zinc Credit Management was addressed to the accused at Mary’s address in Glen Gardens in Elderslie despite the accused residing in Renshaw Road in Bishopton.
“This was regarding an unpaid debt for a mobile phone for £989.08.
“Mary didn’t own a phone and expressed her concerns to her son, Gerald.
Mary suspected that the accused had been in her flat while she was attending Falcon House Day care centre as her personal documents had been disturbed and some maybe missing.
“It was also noted here was an unpaid electricity bill from Mary’s provider, Scottish Hydro of £70.”
The court was told how Gerald, and his wife became concerned about Mary and how she had a lack of energy and motivation to take pride in her appearance and upon visiting her, they noted her fridge was completely empty.
On October 19, 2018, Gerald text Margaret to arrange a chat to talk about their mother’s bank account. A date was arranged but then cancelled at short notice.
“Several further attempts” were made from October 25, 2018 to November 7 to re-arrange, but Margaret failed to reply to her brother.
The fiscal depute continued: “On November 14, 2018, Gerald sent a letter to the accused to inform her he was aware that Mary’s Halifax ISA had no investment capital. As of August 15, 2016, the account had a total investment capital value of £13,299.87.
“On November 26, 2018, a review on the bank accounts established that since power of attorney was granted to Margaret, there had appeared to be £13,442.37 withdrawn over a short period of time from the Halifax ISA.”
Police access was granted to Mary’s bank accounts in March 2019.
Mr Stark said an expert financial investigator carried out an investigation into the “financial affairs” and his analysis identified a sum of “£48,193.49 as the figure stolen from Mary Bolland’s account.”
Defence agent Edel McGinty asked for reports to be called for, stating there was “a background here.”
Ms McGinty added: “It is my client’s view the lack of fridge in the food was because of her mother’s health and she had been throwing food away.
“It is her position that she was managing the food supply.
“It appears the majority of the funds were enjoyed by other individuals and not entirely Ms Bolland.”
Sheriff Gillian Craig said: “You have embezzled a significant amount of money from an elderly woman who was your mother and when you were in a position of trust from your mother, that makes this all the more despicable.
“The figure is close to £50,000 and my initial view was to remand you but I will continue your status for the preparation of reports.
“Be under no illusion madam this is a serious matter and custody remains open to the court. I’ll see what the reports say.”
Bolland will return to court in April for sentencing after a criminal justice social work report and a restriction of liberty order assessment has been prepared.
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