Estate Agent Abused Power of Attorney

The dangers of giving a power of attorney to the wrong person have yet again come into focus following the conviction of a Birmingham estate agent who had stolen more than £250,000 from an elderly couple.

The couple, a woman aged 93 and her 87-year-old partner who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, gave the estate agent a power of attorney and also made him a significant beneficiary under their wills, regarding him as a trusted friend.

However, he commenced misappropriating their assets – spending much of the money on legal fees relating to a boundary dispute that he had with one of his neighbours.