Reverend jailed after stealing £60k from ill friend

Published: 08/03/2013

As far as appointing an Attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney is concerned you would think you couldn’t go far wrong with a reverend. So it’s a sad state of affairs to hear a Worcestershire clergyman has abused this trusted position.

Kidderminster deacon, Peter Heskith, has been convicted and jailed for three and a half years after stealing in excess of £60,000 from an ill friend.

Appointed as the Attorney of Peter Court, Heskith has been found guilty of stealing the money following an 8-day trial. Police have confirmed Heskith was appointed as attorney when Mr Court’s health declined and soon started pocketing money into his own account.

The deceit was uncovered by the solicitors assisting with the probate and estate administration of the late Peter Court.

Detective Constable Phillipa Charlesworth comments:

“As power of attorney he [Heskith] should have been acting in Peter Court’s best interests – instead he acted in his own.

“He has now paid a high price for that betrayal of trust by losing his liberty.”

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document where you appoint an Attorney to look after your affairs if you are unable to do so.

Without an LPA no one, not even your spouse or partner, can automatically take charge of your finances which, as a result, could mean critical bills, such as the mortgage, council tax or energy bills could go unpaid.

Naturally stories such as these can discourage people from taking out an LPA. However such protection can prove invaluable in so many cases. It is our professional advice that everyone should have an LPA in place; just carefully consider who you appoint as your Attorney.

For more help and advice on LPAs, download our free guide

Content correct at time of publication