Man tried in court after abusing lasting power of attorney

The importance of giving lasting power of attorney to a trusted individual has been shown by a recent case in which a man abused this role.

The News and Star reported that Daniel Carruthers, of Carlisle, used over £14,000 of money belonging to his elderly father for his own needs, rather than to pay for his parent's care home fees.

Now, Mr Carruthers, of Harraby, has been handed an 18-week prison sentence, which has been suspended for 12 months.

He will also be supervised for a year by probation officers, after admitting that he was guilty of fraud.

In addition, the 59-year-old was told to pay court costs of £500 and handed a curfew.

When his father was moved to a care home in 2008, he was given lasting power of attorney over his affairs and used money from the sale of his father's house to pay for drink, food and petrol.

This sum should have gone towards care home fees, as the money exceeded the cut off fee below which the state covers this cost.

In addition, Rosie Murray-West, deputy personal finance editor at the Telegraph Media Group, told the Daily Telegraph that individuals would be wise to give someone power of attorney over their legal matters while they still can and are judged capable of doing so.

Published by Hannah Carr