A senior solicitor in Manchester has been jailed for four years for duping 13 elderly clients by misusing the Power of Attorney…reports Asian lite, best newspaper for British Asians
A solicitor has been convicted of defrauding his clients of more than £600,000. Andrew Taylor, 58 years, from Cheadle, Stockport, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court and he was sentenced to four years for 13 counts of fraud by abuse of trust and one count of money laundering after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.
The charges relate to 13 elderly clients who Mr Taylor, in his professional role was acting as a Power of Attorney. A total of £623,920 was alleged to have been defrauded from clients. He abused the trust of his clients to use their money for his own benefit.
He was also charged with allegedly concealing criminal property in the bank account of Cheadle Kingsway sports club, where he was treasurer until he resigned in 2013.
The allegations first came to light after police raided Andrew J Taylor Solicitors on Wilmslow Road in Cheadle in July 2013.
The lawyer’s home on Brooklyn Crescent, Cheadle, was also searched as part of the probe and he was arrested and interviewed. The investigation was conducted in consultation with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Taylor is currently suspended from his solicitors licence.
Mr Taylor is former chairman of Cheadle Civic Society, and sat on the committees of the town’s village hall and traders’ association.
The investigating officer, DC Carol Britton said “Mr. Taylor was seen locally as a respected member of the community both professionally and personally. His admissions of guilt to these offences mean he has tarnished that image by taking hard earned monies from the most vulnerable of victims and spending for his own personal gain.”