Care Home Owners and Manager Sentenced for Elaborate Will Forgery Scheme
In a shocking case of exploitation, care home proprietors Graham and Lyn Walker, alongside former manager Jamiel Slaney-Summers, have been convicted for forging the will of an 85-year-old resident to fraudulently claim her £175,000 estate. The despicable plot was uncovered only after the victim's cousin raised suspicions, leading to a thorough investigation by Dudley Trading Standards.
The Details of the Fraudulent Plot
Rita Barnsley, a vulnerable pensioner, moved into Amberley Care Home in Dudley, West Midlands, in May 2020 after falling ill. She passed away in the summer of 2021, leaving behind an estate valued at approximately £175,000, which included a house worth over £150,000 and savings of around £28,000. Shortly after her death, the Walkers and Slaney-Summers conspired to create a fake will using coloured pens and varied handwriting styles to mimic authenticity.
The forged document, suspected to have been drafted in summer 2021, named Slaney-Summers and Lyn Walker as executors and beneficiaries. It bizarrely stated that Miss Barnsley was bequeathing her estate to Slaney-Summers "for the happiness and laughter she gave me", adding "she became a close friend". Investigators quickly identified the will as a "sham" due to mismatched signatures and inconsistencies.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Graham Walker, 74, and Lyn Walker, 71, were each sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay £30,000 in costs. Jamiel Slaney-Summers, of Northfield, Birmingham, had previously received a five-and-a-half-year prison term after all three were found guilty of fraud. During sentencing, Judge John Butterfield KC condemned their actions, stating, "This was a situation which presented itself to you and you reacted with greed rather than with concern or honesty."
The court heard that Slaney-Summers also stole approximately £6,000 from Miss Barnsley's bank account by making unauthorised withdrawals using her card. In defence, Henry Skudra argued that Slaney-Summers was the "driving force" behind the scheme, with the Walkers becoming involved only in the latter stages and not in the actual forgery. He noted that both Walkers had previously led "blameless lives" before this "opportunist crime" ruined their reputations.
Aftermath and Impact
Fortunately, Miss Barnsley was unaware of the fraud before her death, sparing her additional distress. Her only surviving relative, cousin Verna Woolley, played a crucial role in exposing the plot by filing a complaint. Amberley Care Home is now under new management, distancing itself from the scandal. This case highlights severe vulnerabilities in care systems and underscores the importance of vigilance in protecting elderly residents from financial exploitation.
