Paul Flowers, the former chairman of the Co-operative Bank, has been sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding a friend with dementia of £100,000. The 74-year-old, once dubbed 'Crystal Methodist', pleaded guilty to 18 fraud charges at Manchester Crown Court.
Flowers abused his position as executor of the will and holder of power of attorney for Margaret Jarvis, a retired teacher and long-time friend. As her dementia worsened, he took control of her accounts and used her money for drugs, holidays, and gifts. The court heard that his public profile helped gain her trust.
Judge Nicholas Dean KC described the case as a 'story of betrayal', noting Flowers exploited a vulnerable friend. The fraud continued even after Jarvis's death in 2016 at age 82. Flowers had failed to appear at an earlier sentencing hearing, prompting an arrest warrant, but later handed himself in.
Flowers rose to prominence as Co-op Bank chair from 2009 to 2013, but resigned after a £1.5bn financial hole emerged. His downfall accelerated in 2013 when a tabloid published footage of him buying crystal meth. He later admitted drug use and was banned from financial services by the Financial Conduct Authority.
