BREAKING: Brierley Hill care home bosses found GUILTY of defrauding a resident by fiddling her will months before she died

Jamiel Slaney-Summers, 65, and co-owners Lyn and Graham Walker, aged 71 and 74, were found guilty of abusing their position by defrauding resident Rita Barnsley after her will was changed before she died in August 2021.

Slaney-Summers, Raven Hays Road, Northfield, was also found guilty of stealing £6,000 from 85-year-old Rita by using her bank cards to withdraw cash. 

The jury took less than 90 minutes to decide all three were guilty of the charges facing them.

The court heard during the trial that Rita was only meant to move into Amberley Care Home in Brierley Hill as a temporary measure after having a fall at her home in Brierley Hill. 

However, through various methods, including phones 'being lost' she became quickly isolated from her loved ones which included her cousin Verna, also in her 80s. 

By the time she died in August 2021 her will had been changed to benefit Slaney-Summers and Lyn Walker, who were also made executors of the will, and her savings had been plundered by Slaney-Summers who was withdrawing up to £500 at a time.

She told the jury that a Coral online betting account that was set up in her name and in which thousands of pounds was deposited - at the same time Rita's savings were reducing - was for her daughter. The jury saw through those lies just as they did about her tall tale about 'not being able to write' at the time of the will changing which she said was because of a medical condition.

Her hands worked well enough to carry black bags full of financial papers belonging to Rita in the weeks after her death. 

The Walkers meanwhile, of Ribbesford Close, Cradley, went on a cruise in the lap of luxury but not long afterwards, Graham Walker phoned solicitors about selling Rita's house. He even laughed when he was told Verna's grandson thought he could move in because Rita's family did not know about the will being changed. 

Razor sharp Verna, who knew 'something fishy' was going on when she was referred to as an 'adoptive cousin' in the will knowing Rita never made such a distinction about blood relatives, they'd loved each other for eight decades.

Thanks to Verna, who was the prosecution's star witness in court, raising the alarm about the fraud - with the help of the police, CQC and Dudley Council - the trio were caught. 

Judge John Butterfield said: "I am adjourning your case for sentencing which will be on December 5. The hearing will last 90 minutes.

"I am ordering pre-sentence reports on all three of you which you will need to work with the probation service over the coming weeks to complete."

Judge Butterfield granted the Walkers conditional bail. Slaney-Summers, who had previously had her bail removed and placed in custody due to repeatedly not turning up to the trial, was also given bail after her barrister David Burgess argued she 'needed to get her affairs in order' before returning to prison. 

Judge Butterfield said: "I am worried about her safety as she has been a danger to herself, and it is very hard to be released from custody, only to know you will be returning in a short while. However, I am going to grant bail on this occasion."

He added: "You will need to live and sleep in the addresses you have provided every night." 

The judge told the trio the granting of bail did not mean they do not face a custodial sentence when they return before him.

"In granting you bail I am not giving you any indication about what will happen on sentencing. All options are open," he said.