Man jailed after taking elderly man's finances

Tuesday, 5 December 2017 07:00

A man who took control of a vulnerable elderly man’s finances before stealing thousands of pounds from him has been jailed.

James Morris, 43, of Knowsley Road, Ainsworth was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday, 4 December, to two years and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to fraud, theft of cash via ATM and attempted theft via cheque.

In March 2016, Morris befriended a 70-year-old man with dementia in the Ainsworth area of Bury and began gradually assisting him with his shopping, due to his inability to drive as a result of his restricted mobility.

Over the coming months Morris embedded himself deeper into the man’s life, taking control of his bank cards and possession of his financial documents.

A friend of the victim found that Morris had used the man’s account for transactions totalling over £10,000 between 31 March 2017 and 16 May 2017.

It also became apparent that on two occasions Morris had attempted to cash a cheque to his personal bank account from the victim worth thousands of pounds.

The incidents were reported to police and an investigation was launched, during which it was found that Morris had also re-registered the victim’s cars to himself and insured them in his name.

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