Grandfather’s bank account was emptied

Kevin Peter North, of Wellington Grove, Bentley, this week admitted fraud by abuse of position at Sheffield Crown Court.

Police received reports in October 2011 from a relative of 84-year-old Norman Chipman, a Doncaster man who had died the previous month.

Officers inspected his bank accounts and discovered they were empty.

Legal power of attorney documents showed that North was granted this position in 2008 and was made trustee of his grandfather estate.

South Yorkshire Police’s Financial Crime Unit discovered that after North was granted power of attorney, significant sums of money were withdrawn from the accounts.

Detective Constable Matt Dixon from Doncaster said: “This has been a complex and lengthy investigation into the financial abuse of an elderly and vulnerable man by a member of his own family.

“North’s actions have been truly abhorrent – without any regard for his family, he thoughtlessly spent a significant sum of money, frittering away his grandfather’s estate.

“He didn’t even leave enough in the accounts to pay for the funeral when Mr Chipman passed away.

“I am pleased that he has accepted responsibility for his crime in court, thus saving the family any further distress and prolonged anguish.”

North has been bailed and will appear before Sheffield Crown Court on June 18 to be sentenced.