A man who defrauded a woman of thousands of pounds has been ordered to pay £185,000, with six charities to which she had pledged legacy donations receiving a share of the money.
Paul Flowers, from Swinton, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of fraud by abuse of position in July 2024 and was handed a three-year sentence in February this year.
On 24 September, a confiscation order was granted to the value of £184,862 at a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing at Manchester crown court.
Flowers, who was a former Co-operative Bank chairman, Labour councillor in Rochdale and Bradford, and Methodist minister, stole about £100,000 from Margaret Jarvis between 2016 and 2017 while she battled Alzheimer’s.
Jarvis had given Flowers power of attorney over her financial affairs and made him an executor of her will in 1995 because she had known him for decades.
In her will, Jarvis said she wished her nieces to receive £10,000 each while the rest would be split between six different charities – Donkey Sanctuary, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Wessex Cancer Trust, Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Methodist Homes for the Aged.
In 2016, Jarvis died aged 82 in a care home in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, while Flowers continued to steal from her will even after her death.
Flowers stole a total of £70,000 in cash, spending money on holidays, home improvements and alcohol among other things.
Bank officials flagged the crime to police in 2019 and a police investigation was then launched.
‘Justice has been served’
Catherine Price, director of fundraising at Wessex Cancer Trust, said: “Although we have not yet been formally notified of any expected payment from Margaret Jarvis’ estate, we are pleased to hear that justice has been served and that Margaret’s original intentions may be honoured.”
Emma Whitcombe, deputy chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We are aware of this case and that Alzheimer’s Research UK is one of a number of charities Margaret Jarvis included in her will.
“We welcome the court ruling and hope that Margaret’s final wishes will now be fulfilled.”
A spokesperson for Guide Dogs said: “Our thoughts are with Miss Jarvis’ family during this time. We can confirm we are set to receive 8.3% of the residuary share of the estate and are always incredibly grateful for gifts left in wills which are essential to funding our vital work to help those with sight loss live the life they choose.”
Charles Clayton, specialist prosecutor, CPS Proceeds of Crime Division, said: “Paul Flowers abused the trust his friend placed in him, preying on her vulnerability. He stole a large amount ofmoney from her, depriving charities and her niece of gifts that were bequeathed to them. We are pleased to have secured a compensation order that will right that wrong.
“Flowers took advantage of Margaret Jarvis’ illness; he knew she wouldn’t realise he was stealing and even continued to steal from her after her death.
“Today CPS Proceeds of Crime Division ensured that Flowers cannot continue to benefit from his ill-gotten gains and his victim’s final wishes for her estate will finally be fulfilled.”
Detective constable Kate Riley, fraud investigations officer at Greater Manchester Police, said: “Getting Flowers’ ill-gotten money back and into the right hands is a further layer of justice that I am pleased has happened.
“He is still serving his time in prison for his crimes – exploiting a vulnerable woman for his own self-serving needs. This order means the money he took can go back to where his victim intended.”
Donkey Sanctuary, Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Methodist Homes for the Aged have all been contacted for comment.
