Scheming son stole over £250k from dementia-stricken mum to fund trips to Dubai

13 November 2023 , 23:26

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Devious son Karl Zierold (Image: MEN MEDIA)

A cunning son nicked over £250,000 from his mum who suffers from dementia to fund lavish trips to Dubai and Mauritius.

Karl Zierold was given full control of her bank account as the lasting power of attorney. However, the 56-year-old blew the cash, handing over £180,000 to a potential business partner, and splashing the rest on posh holidays and payments for his swanky Mercedes V8 GT. His family discovered his deceit when they found out about an unpaid bill for his car and confronted him. He then confessed in letters to his family that he had pinched his mum's money.

Sentencing him to three years and four months behind bars, Recorder Jason MacAdam said: "The phrase 'chip off the old block' is as far removed as can be possible when it comes to you." Prosecutor Megan Edwards explained that Zierold's mum was moved to a care home in 2019 and the last power of attorney was put in place. This allowed Zierold, the eldest of four siblings, to manage his mum's property and bank account.

Manchester Crown Court (MEN Media)

In Spring of 2019, the siblings decided to invest the funds, though Karl was 'resistant', and they later realised the majority of the money had been nicked by the defendant already. The shocking discovery was made when concerns over an unpaid car bill were raised by his mum's former partner. Zierold's brother, James, checked the account and found that the balance of over £220,000 had vanished.

"He found all the money had been removed from the bank account into the defendants," Ms Edwards revealed. "He asked the bank to check, who confirmed that over £247,000 had been withdrawn. James immediately contacted his brother to inform him about what the bank had said. The defendant responded: "Oh s**t, I better tell you what's happened then." He confessed that he had taken the money and given it to a business partner - which he had not been repaid, the court heard. His brother reported the fraud to the Office of Public Guardian.

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An investigation followed which showed payments of £10,000 were debited from the account, along with smaller payments of £1,000 at a time. Zierold also splashed out on a Mercedes V8 GT, and enjoyed luxury holidays to Dubai and Mauritius. "His family had previously asked him how he could afford such a luxurious lifestyle as he wasn't employed. He was evasive," Ms Edwards added.

After the investigation began, Zierold removed himself as the lasting power of attorney, which halted the investigation. In late 2021, Zierold sent a letter to his siblings admitting he had taken the money, and in another letter expressed his desire to apologise.

The prosecutor revealed: "Over a 32 month period, between February 2019 and October 2021, the defendant took £251,137.82 from his mother's bank account across a number of transactions,"189,000 was transferred to a business partner, £7,400 was spent on car payments and £10,358 was spent on holidays and nights away."£189,000 was transferred to a business partner, £7,400 was spent on car payments and £10,358 was spent on holidays and nights away."

Zierold's sister Heidi shared in a statement that their mum was 'hard working and determined', having been a social worker and successful business owner. She explained her mum had dementia and was in a care home, completely dependent on others. Heidi said: "She wanted to make sure that in her old age she had a nest egg to look after her and have a small amount for her children,"189,000 was transferred to a business partner, £7,400 was spent on car payments and £10,358 was spent on holidays and nights away."We no longer have enough to pay for her care."

She expressed her disappointment, saying: "She put her trust in Karl and he broke that, and we are deeply disappointed. When we first found out, he said he would get the money back. That is almost two years ago, none of the money has been returned." Heidi also mentioned that the family no longer had a say in her mum's care due to the suspension of the lasting power of attorney, causing 'great emotional distress'. She added that the financial situation is 'permanently unresolved'.

In defence, Rhia Abukhalil stated about the money given to Mr Evans: "He always thought it would be returned to him. There were assurances that money would be returned to that account - it's an example of instant karma."

The judge, Judge MacAdam, said: "Your mother was a hard working person all her life, putting money aside so others would not bear the burden of responsibility of caring for her in her old age. The phrase 'chip off the old block' is as far removed as can be possible when it comes to you. You don't serve to shoulder the burden for others - you are a burden on others. It's hard to think of somebody standing in that dock that should be more ashamed of themselves as you should be." Zierold, of Seven Stiles Drive, Marple, was jailed for 40 months, of which he will serve half in custody.

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Amy Walker