Former Swindon solicitor Alison Haley Griffiths received a two-year prison sentence after admitting to stealing more than £85,000 from two adults whose finances she had been entrusted to manage under Lasting Powers of Attorney.
What are the details?
Griffiths pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by abuse of position. The offences occurred while she was employed by a legal practice and held authority to oversee the financial affairs of both victims.
What happened to the victims?
In the first case, Griffiths was appointed attorney for a 94-year-old woman, from whose accounts she withdrew and transferred almost £49,500 between 2018 and 2021. The theft came to light after Griffiths admitted the misconduct.
A second victim was an 80-year-old man
He lost nearly £36,000 between 2020 and 2021. Concerns were raised when care providers informed his family that there were insufficient funds to cover fees. Further checks revealed that Griffiths had been taking money from his account. There are other cases in the UK, sadly, where this has happened.
What is an LPA?
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone to make decisions for you in the future, should you lose capacity. There are two types: the Health and Welfare LPA and the Property and Financial Affairs LPA. More information on setting up a Power Of Attorney Online can be obtained at sites like //powerofattorneyonline.co.uk.
What happened in this case?
Following the proceedings, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal reviewed her conduct and ruled that she should be struck off the roll of solicitors.