Edinburgh Woman Sentenced for Embezzling Over £900,000 from Mother's Estate
- Hayley Matthews, a former television presenter, was jailed for stealing over £100,000 from her mother, who suffers from dementia.
- Her expenditures included numerous online purchases and ATM withdrawals, amounting to significant sums.
- The case highlights the serious issue of financial abuse against vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly.
Janice Matthews, whose financial misconduct began in 2019, was sentenced after her actions came to light following her mother’s death in a care facility in Edinburgh in 2021. Concerns were raised by Matthews' sister regarding the size of the estate, prompting her to request financial statements from the bank. A police investigation revealed that Matthews had engaged in extensive fraudulent spending, including 371 PayPal transactions totaling £42,763, ATM withdrawals of £38,000, and significant purchases from Amazon and luxury retailers. The court learned that Matthews had admitted to her father in January 2022 that she had misappropriated funds, stating, "I've spent what I shouldn't and used money I shouldn't." The case was subsequently reported to Police Scotland, leading to legal proceedings. Sheriff Alison Stirling emphasized the seriousness of Matthews' actions, describing them as "deliberate and repeated over a period of more than three years," and not merely a lapse in judgment. The timeline of events revealed that Matthews' mother was hospitalized in September 2019 and later transferred to a care facility in March 2020. Sheriff Stirling noted a letter from Matthews' sister expressing concern over the financial impact of the embezzlement, which deprived her of potential inheritance. The sheriff concluded that the case serves as a warning that those who exploit vulnerable individuals for personal gain will face justice.