Care home manager jailed after stealing 99-year-old man's life savings

Maria Langworthy - desperate for cash after falling victim to a £19,000 e-mail scam by a gang of crooks in Africa - got power of attorney over the financial affairs of dementia sufferer Charlie Maycock, a judge heard.

Then the scheming 56-year-old spinster - who had worked in the care industry for 34 years and had no previous convictions - pocketed £21,325 by emptying his two bank accounts, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told yesterday.

The family of Mr Maycock were then not told of his death and missed the funeral.

They only learned the sad news of his passing four months later after Langworthy had been sacked for an unrelated matter, explained Miss Heather Chamberlain, prosecuting.

Langworthy had been working at Bescot Lodge Care Home in Bescot Lodge, Walsall for three years when she was dismissed from the post of manager in June 2014 after complaints about alleged lack of care for patients and 'management issues,' continued the prosecutor.

Unmarried Mr Maycock, who suffered from learning difficulties but still worked at Walsall Arboretum for many years, had passed away two months earlier but it was another two months before they discovered he was dead.

After Langworthy was sacked it emerged she had charged a member of staff £50 too much for a criminal record check and illegally taken over £180 from another resident.

An investigation uncovered the fact the bank accounts of Mr Maycock had been emptied. Officers found details of Moneygrams at the home of the defendant showing she had sent £19,000 in two months to the Ivory Coast.

Mr Charnjit Jutla, defending, said: "She had an unblemished 34 year record of service in the caring environment and it beggars belief how she finds herself before this court in these circumstances.

"She had been the victim of crime herself after receiving a number of e-mails from somebody in Africa that led to her transferring large sums of money to the Ivory Coast. She began struggling financially as a result of this unfortunate set of circumstances, saw an opportunity and took it.

"There is no evidence that she maintained a lavish lifestyle. She would repay the money if she could but is not in a position to do so because she is now living on benefits."

It remains unclear exactly what the exact nature of the scam was since Langworthy from Kelverley Grove, West Bromwich gave several different versions of events.

She pleaded guilty to theft and was jailed by Recorder David Mason QC who told her: "I don't know how you were able to set up the power of attorney over the financial affairs of Mr Maycock but you used it to remove his life savings.

"The degree of dishonesty means the offence is far too serious for me to suspend the inevitable p3eriod of imprisonment."

Mr David Maycock, the 69-year-old nephew of the victim who lived in Walsall before being moved into Bescot Lodge, said after the case: "My sister had power of attorney for him but when she died suddenly I went to see the home in August 2014.

"They told me he had passed away four months earlier. When I asked further questions they told me to talk to the police. I was devastated to discover I had missed his funeral. I think the behaviour of the care home manager was despicable."