Gary and Diane Mansell, of Camp Road in Liverpool, have been jailed for defrauding his elderly parents, Fred and Enid Mansell. The couple, who had power of attorney, launched a cruel campaign of fraud over several years.
The Abuse of Trust
Fred and Enid Mansell owned their home, two cars, received up to £2,700 monthly in pensions, and had a healthy amount of cash in the bank. They moved in with Gary and Diane in Woolton in October 2017 after Fred was discharged from hospital following a serious fall. The Mansells sold the elderly couple's home for £150,000, significantly under market value, and used a portion to convert their garage into a living area for Fred and Enid.
The couple exerted control over the parents, feeding them ready meals and keeping them shut away for over four years. While isolated, Gary and Diane spent the stolen proceeds on lavish holidays to Jamaica and Cape Verde, designer goods, and more.
Lavish Spending
Diane Mansell spent £9,000 on dental work, bought an extensive collection of Chanel and Louboutin bags, and a gold BMW. They withdrew around £158,000 from the parents' bank accounts through over 100 withdrawals. The prosecution believed the total stripped from the estate was around £218,000 over three and a half years, later reduced to £117,000 after accounting for garage conversion and living expenses.
Legal Consequences
Gary and Diane Mansell were both jailed for six years in 2023 after being found guilty of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering. Their attempt to overturn the convictions at the Court of Appeal was thrown out in May. The couple was recently ordered to repay £289,773.48 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). They have three months to raise the sum, likely through the sale of their home, or face an additional three years in jail.
