Internal family theft, Help please!!! :(

gregdedman

Hi everyone,

Im sorry if this is in the wrong board, I truly couldn't find a suitable forum so please move if you know of a better place.
Im writing to you all in desperation really and need an avenue to explore.

My grandma is in her 90's and in the last 6 months has developed dementia. She is now in a home and my family had been in the process of moving her belongings from her warden controlled flat when her financial paperwork revealed steady amounts of money being taken from her current account since 2007 despite her being refined to her home most of the time.
These amounts were from between £20 and £1,700 and usually from different locations up to 5 times a day.
The only person to have access to her card and PIN was my cousin, another grandson who claimed to be looking after her and buying her shopping after grandad died in 2007.

When the family reported the inconsistances, he fled and has since been arrested and released on bail after repeating 'no comment' to all the police questions.
Grandma has been approached by social services asking if she would like to prosecute her grandson but they didn't explain why. She, in her current confused state declined a prosecution.

The total amount this grandson took is around the £40,000 mark and for me, It is not about money, it is about the injustice of letting someone walk away from such an awful crime against a vulnerable family member fighting a debilitating condition such as dementia.

What I'm asking for is any advice from anyone in the know or who has had experience with this kind of thing. Surely he cannot walk away despite a confused grandma not wanting to press charges!

Please someone help.
Regards

withabix

If she won't report the theft and the CPS decide not to charge him, there probably isn't much that can be done, particularly as she must have provided access to her card and PIN (which is against bank T&Cs as well) when she was fully in control of her mind.

The only witness has dementia.

If someone has Power of Attorney, they could sue, but the grandson presumably has no assets to claim.

meer53

My friends son was in the same position. His granny had dementia (although undiagnosed at the time) and he was due to be taken to court for taking nearly 20k from her account over a 2 year period. It came to light when his uncle (granny's son) came to visit one day and checked her account. They pushed for him to be charged (family don't get on) but it was dropped after the CPS decided that there was no proof that he had taken the money without her consent as she had given him the card and PIN herself previously to get cash out for her.

If granny doesn't want (or can't agree) to press charges, you have no other option.

[Deleted User]

Well I agree with the above, I only heard about a very very similar situation a few weeks ago.

I don't think much can be done, I suppose the alledged could argue hat he had asked and was given permission.

I don't think the lady would also need the stress of a court case either or the questions and more questions... Who needs that at anytime?

If he were to be charged and then found guilty, what would the benefit be, I guess he may only get a suspended sentence.

I know it's horrible and you are feeling angry, but the best you can do is protect what is left and do what you can to help your grandmother now, she does not need the money and I'm sure you just want to spend time with her and your family that do not do this type of thing.