Jury Convicts POA Abuser Of Ripping Off 89-Year Old Woman; Care Home Staff's Suspicions Raised After Scammer Put Victim's £300,000 Home Up For Sale

In Exeter, Devon (UK), the Herald Express reports:

• A "greedy" 67-year-old man has been found guilty of defrauding his elderly neighbour out of £40,000. Robert Cole, of Ilsham Marine Drive, Torquay, abused his position as power of attorney over the affairs of Hilda Falk, a jury at Exeter Crown Court found. Cole denied one charge of fraud but the jury returned a unanimous verdict. [...] The verdict brought to an end a five-day trial during which the court was told that Cole had gained control over his neighbour's financial affairs and then exploited that to pay for his failing business.

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• Suspicions were only raised after Mrs Falk had moved into residential care at Sundial Care Home in Torquay. Staff were puzzled by her diminishing financial assets. Cole put her house on the market and changed the locks.(1) Speaking during a police interview in 2008, Mrs Falk, who has since died, said: "I thought I could trust him but I found I couldn't."

For the story, see Greed 'overcame' man who took £40,000 from elderly neighbour.

(1) See: Man 'put home of neighbour up for sale':

• [Robert Cole] stole £42,000 from his elderly neighbour to pay for his mortgage and failing business[, ... ] then put the 89-year-old's £300,000 house on the market and attempted to auction her belongings when she went into a care home 'with eyes on the main prize', the jury has heard on the first day of his trial for fraud.