A lifelong criminal made infamous in 2012 after appearing on ITV’s Criminals Behind Bars has once again been imprisoned for impersonating a will writer and defrauding a 94-year-old man out of his precious savings.
In September 2015, the victim in the case, Mr Manwill, was cold called about a will writing business that could help him with his estate planning. The call came from Anthony McErlean, an unscrupulous criminal who had only just vacated his prison cell for faking his own death and claiming the life insurance money.
Once McErlean was confident he had his victim in his sights, he systematically sought to claim as much as he could from the vulnerable Mr Manwill. Having acquired the trust of his victim, McErlean fraudulently took control of Mr Manwill’s finances by creating a lasting power of attorney. This included forging the signature of trusted neighbour and friend, Constance Jessop.
Having gained control of the finances, McErlean had a field day in exploiting his position by transferring a Santander bond worth £135,000 into his own account.
The court also heard that the £60,000 Audi McErlean attempted to buy using Manwill’s money was justified as he used the vehicle to take Manwill on various medical visits and appointments.
However, it was when the life-long thief attempted to purchase a sapphire necklace that the police, who were already monitoring McErlean’s account, stepped in and stopped the sale.
In 2016 McErlean pushed for Manwill’s house to be sold for £600,000. Since that time, the donor had been living in a care home. It was at the Sidcup BUPA care home that the fake will writer was relieved of his duties and arrested following a number of suspicious staff questioned the validity of their relationship.
Despite Mr Manwill’s express wishes that his estate should be split between five of his friends and relatives, it is thought that a new will was issued attempting to make McErlean and his wife Sonya the sole beneficiaries.
It is estimated that Mr Manwill’s estate was worth in excess of £800,000 before McErlean became involved.
The trial culminated in McErlean being jailed for a term of six years for the fraud. However, following persistent ill health this was reduced to five years.
Mr Manwill, victim in this case, said: “At first I didn’t trust him, but I received a phone call from a lady stating he was qualified. He seemed genuine, I came to trust him and consider him a friend. In July 2016 my house was sold. He told me it had been put in a Lloyd’s bank account, but I have never seen any evidence of that.
“My will was split five ways with my family and neighbours. I never wished for Anthony or Sonya McErlean to be beneficiaries of my will. I have not given him any permission to take money from my accounts. I feel such a fool that he has taken my money when I trusted him.”
Judge Philip Shorrock, presiding judge, said: “Had you not been arrested you would have helped yourself to as much of his assets and money as you could.
“He had assets including his own home worth about £800,000 in total. You had begun to help yourself to those assets through that power of lasting attorney.
“I find as a fact, if the police had not intervened you would have if you could have, helped yourself to at least £500,000.”
Does this sentence act as a deterrent that would prevent criminals from attempting to defraud vulnerable people?
One Response
I would hope that it would serve as a deterrent but I very much doubt it.