Woman 'abused power of attorney'

The importance of carefully considering who to give power of attorney to has been highlighted by a recent case in North East Lincolnshire.

A woman from Immingham has recently been jailed after withdrawing thousands of pounds of cash from her elderly grandmother's bank accounts, This Is Grimsby reported.

Zoe Berridge admitted in Grimsby Crown Court that she had stolen £11,678 from her 90-year-old grandmother between April 2008 and November 2009.

Ms Berridge, of Dunster Walk, Immingham had joint power of attorney over her frail relative's finances and used her "vulnerable mental state" to allow her to take the cash.

As a result of her actions, Ms Berridge, who is a mother of two, has been jailed for eight months.

In addition, last year a woman stole £30,000 from a friend after she had granted her power of attorney. Over more than a year Diana Thomas, 63, spent Mair Harris' funds on a holiday, covering debts and financing a university course, the BBC reported.

Published by Hannah Carr