How investigation exposed care home bosses' will fraud

Graham and Lyn Walker were found guilty of fraud following a trial in October

A trading standards officer says he is relieved care home bosses who tried to steal an elderly resident's £175,000 fortune have been brought to justice.

Kuldeep Mann from Dudley Council trading standards investigated a sham will made for 85-year-old Rita Barnsley after her cousin made a complaint about the care home she was staying at in September 2021.

He said he knew something was wrong "straight away" after finding the will was written in different coloured pens and more than one handwriting, and the signatures did not match.

Graham and Lyn Walker, who owned Amberley Care Home in Brierley Hill, Dudley, and its former manager, Jamiel Slaney-Summers, were convicted of fraud in October.

Mr Mann said the investigation began after Ms Barnsley's only surviving relative, her cousin Verna, made a complaint for the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

He said: "The matter was given to the police, but they said it wasn't a crime.

"They basically said because they felt Rita had capacity, she could gift anybody anything in her will.

"So once that decision was made. Our adult safeguarding team came to trading standards, and as soon as we picked up the complaint, we knew something was wrong."

Ms Barnsley had moved into the care home after becoming unwell in May 2020 for respite care.

But her stay was extended, and concerns were raised during the investigation that the care home had been keeping her in there longer, said Mr Mann.

The will named Walker and Slaney-Summers as executors, but Verna told trading standards that Ms Barnsley had never wanted a will.

Mr Mann said: "We received a copy of the will, and it did look dodgy.

"There were different coloured pens and different handwriting on there, and the signatures didn't match. The two witnesses of the will were care home employees - straight away we knew something was wrong."

Rita Barnsley was "financially abused" by the manager and owners of a care home, the court heard

After investigating the home's financial records, Mr Mann said they found the care home's former manager, Slaney-Summers, was spending a lot of money on gambling, which could have been a motive.

He said: "I noticed there was a whole range of documentation that was missing that should have been there.

"The witnesses said they didn't know they were signing a will. They said their manager asked them to sign a document, and it was blank when they signed it."

Slaney-Summers also stole around £6,000 by making withdrawals from Ms Barnsley's bank account by using her card.

Mr Mann added: "When it got to court I felt relief. The jury took 90 minutes before all three were convicted.

"Unfortunately, it's a sad story. But I've been investigating carer fraud for the last 10 years, and it's very common.

"We seem to get a lot of complaints concerning wills being altered more and more.

"I would urge people to make adult safeguarding referrals. It's the most important thing, and it will also alert police."

The trio will be back in court on 5 December for sentencing.