A defenceless 91 year-old woman received a “pauper’s funeral” after a Conservative councillor stole £154,000 from her, a court heard yesterday. Tory John Morgan is accused of abusing his power of attorney over Beryl Gittens to trouser £75,000 in bank transfers and £80,000 in cash — including a number of withdrawals in Las Vegas.
Mocking Morgan’s defence against a charge of theft — that the Alzheimer’s sufferer had asked him to gamble away her money — prosecutors told Oxford Crown Court:
“[The defence will claim that ] there was a conversation between just the two of them, not overheard by any other person.
“Morgan alleges she said ‘I want you to promise when I go there isn’t a penny for those b****** to squabble over’.”
“He would say that Beryl loved to gamble. He was the only person who knew that about her.”Mrs Gittens had her care taken over by her local authority after her funds fell low. Meanwhile Morgan was receiving £7,257 per year in his role as vice chair of planning at Vale of White Horse District Council.
A verdict is expected on Wednesday or Thursday.
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