Calne man guilty of misusing his power of attorney

Eggleton will be sentenced at a hearing in March

A man has been found guilty of stealing £600,000 from his aunt before she died.

David Eggleton, 71, of Newbury Avenue, in Calne, appeared at Swindon Crown Court charged with misusing his power of attorney to commit fraud.

A Wiltshire Police investigation was launched after payments to his auntie's care home kept bouncing.

Det Con Aaron Rowe said: "What is even worse is that sadly, Lilian passed away before getting justice." Eggleton is due to be sentenced on 28 March.

Eggleton had claimed the money was part of a loan agreement, but was found guilty by a jury on 19 January.

A report was made to Wiltshire Police in September 2020 after payments to a woman's care home kept bouncing.

'Trusted by his auntie'

When checked, it was found there was no money in her bank account as Eggleton had moved more than £600,000 into his own account.

Det Con Rowe said: "This was a long and complex case where Eggleton was trusted by his Auntie Lilian who he then took advantage of.

"Throughout the case, right from day one, Eggleton claimed his victim loaned and gifted him the money, even pointing to a loan agreement he had created allegedly with her assistance, but during the trial he admitted that the loan agreement was fraudulently created.

"This will of no doubt had a huge impact on Lilian's wellbeing."

Eggleton has been released on bail ahead of his sentencing.