It was recently revealed by NMW the current directors of the local A@T newspaper Mr. Edward Curry and his sister Ms. Caroline Woodford had cheated their Father Mr. Charles Starr Curry MBE out of 1.25 million pounds by misappropriating his personal fortune by repeatedly selling him more shares in his own company.
This was accomplished by them misusing their lasting power of attorney (LPA) over his affairs and abusing their position of trust over the course of a 3 year period. Over which time his beloved paper also oddly operated at a substantial loss for the first time according to published official Companies House figures.
The share scam was carried out by “Eddie” signing on his Father’s behalf and then lying to him about it. Here what makes the crime even more insidious (if that’s at all possible) is the fact this exploitation as borne out by official Companies House records was implemented by the directors as an ongoing business strategy contrary to Charles’ best interests, which they had a legal duty to protect not only as his nominated “attorneys” under the LPA but also as the directors of his company. Not to mention the moral duty a son or daughter owes to a vulnerable parent. Charles passed away earlier this year without ever achieving the justice he sought and deserved or the truth being exposed.
Misappropriating a vulnerable 98 year old’s personal money in this way constitutes “elder abuse” a term I was not familiar with, and after researching it I discovered disturbingly this kind of financial and psychological abuse of the elderly happens more often than you might think.
“Action on elder abuse” a charity focusing attention on this deviant behaviour tells us:
• Elder abuse is a widespread problem that occurs across the UK and both in institutional care settings and private homes.
• AEA estimates, based on academic studies and polling, an incidence of around 9% of older people experiencing some form of abuse each year (physical, financial, psychological, sexual or neglect): approximately one million people.
• Despite this, the number of convictions for crimes against older people are suspiciously low: in 2016/7 there were just 2,856 successful convictions, or 0.3% of total estimated prevalence.
Often, the people who abuse older people are exploiting a special relationship. They are in a position of trust or have created an expectation of trust, whether through family bonds, friendship or through a paid caring role, and they exploit that trust.
In the experience of the helpline, most financial abuse/harm is perpetrated by family members, often sons and daughters, who seek to justify their actions e.g. by claiming that they are taking their inheritance ‘a bit early’.
Two common issues that come to our attention are (a) sons or daughters attempting to justify their actions on the basis that they are simply obtaining their inheritance in advance and (b) the misuse of Powers of Attorney. <–
Financial abuse/harm can happen because the older person can be seen as an easy way of getting money, particularly if they are dependent. It can happen because there is an assumption that the likelihood of criminal penalties is small if the perpetrator is caught. And it can happen because the current protective systems are weak.
Types of abuse and number of elderly in the population affected:
Financial Abuse (e.g. The misuse of power of attorney, theft, fraud) 162,000. <–
Physical Abuse (e.g. hitting, slapping, spitting) 325,000.
Sexual Abuse (e.g. Rape, unwanted sexual touching) 197,000.
Neglect (e.g. failure to meet basic needs such as food, drink or personal care) 58,000.
For more on this eye opening topic visit and support the very worthwhile charity “Action on elder abuse”:
https://www.elderabuse.org.uk/
To view the evidence on how Mr. Charles Starr Curry OBE was exploited (and knew it), see:
Elder abuse like child abuse is a heinous CRIME and those who commit it must not be allowed to profit from what is an affront to basic human decency. Like child abuse there has to be zero tolerance. However it is clearly yet another area where enforcement and accountability are once again just the figment of the authorities imagination and subject to the normal huge amount of political lip service and hot air. Not good enough.
For the public record and your consideration.
Pictured. The A@T directors who abused their positions of trust and cheated their own Father in 1.25 million pound share scam.
Mr. Edward Curry 
Ms. Caroline Woodford
Left: Mr. “Eddie” Curry – the son
Right: Ms. Caroline Woodford – the daughter