'Despicable' case as woman in Scotland tricks mum out of nearly £50,000
A "despicable" woman managed to swindle her elderly mother of a figure just shy of £50,000.
Margaret Bolland, from Renfrew, near Glasgow in Scotland, took away a total of £48,193.49 between November 2014 and January 2019 after she was granted power of attorney over her mother's financial affairs in September 2014 due to "physical incapacity."
Bolland, 62, took the cash from Mary via four accounts to her name including ones with the Bank of Scotland.
They included a rewards current account, a saver's rewards account, a classic vantage account and a Halifax ISA, the Daily Record reported.
Prosecutor Jason Stark told Paisley Sheriff Court that Ms Bolland is one of three children along with son Gerald and daughter Ann.
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Margaret Bolland was entrusted with her mum's financial affairs (Andrew Neil)Mr Stark said: "From September 2014 to January 2019, the accused acted as the sole person of full financial control as the only person to have access to the relevant cards and means of access to Mary’s accounts."
The worrying state of her finances came to Mary's attention in October 2018 and she informed son Gerald that she had received a letter in the post from a debt collector.
Mr Stark said: "A letter from Zinc Credit Management was addressed to the accused at Mary’s address in Glen Gardens in Elderslie despite the accused residing in Renshaw Road in Bishopton.
"This was regarding an unpaid debt for a mobile phone for £989.08.
"Mary didn’t own a phone and expressed her concerns to her son, Gerald."
With her money missing, Mary began to think Margaret had been in her flat while she was away at Falcon House Day care centre. She found her documentation had been disturbed, with some possibly missing.
"It was also noted there was an unpaid electricity bill from Mary’s provider, Scottish Hydro of £70."
The court heard that Gerald and his wife began to become concerned that Mary appeared to be suffering, with an empty fridge and a lack of energy and motivation to take pride in her appearance.
Gerald attempted to arrange a conversation with Margaret to talk about the state of their mother's finances on October 19, 2018, but she cancelled last minute.
This led to "several further attempts" at contact being made in an attempt to re-arrange, but there was no reply from Ms Bolland.
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The court heard: "On November 14, 2018, Gerald sent a letter to the accused to inform her he was aware that Mary’s Halifax ISA had no investment capital. As of August 15, 2016, the account had a total investment capital value of £13,299.87.
"On November 26, 2018, a review of the bank accounts established that since power of attorney was granted to Margaret, there had appeared to be £13,442.37 withdrawn over a short period of time from the Halifax ISA."
It wasn't until 2019 that police were allowed access to Mary's bank accounts and a financial investigator worked out that £48,193.49 had been stolen.
Acting in Ms Bolland's defence, Edel McGinty said: "It is my client’s view the lack of fridge in the food was because of her mother’s health and she had been throwing food away.
"It is her position that she was managing the food supply. It appears the majority of the funds were enjoyed by other individuals and not entirely Ms Bolland."
Sheriff Gillian Craig said: "You have embezzled a significant amount of money from an elderly woman who was your mother and when you were in a position of trust from your mother, that makes this all the more despicable.
"The figure is close to £50,000 and my initial view was to remand you but I will continue your status for the preparation of reports.
"Be under no illusion madam this is a serious matter and custody remains open to the court. I’ll see what the reports say."
Ms Bolland is due to be sentenced in April following a criminal justice social work report and restriction of liberty order assessment.
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