The woman who became legal guardian and trustee for a young teenage boy, following the tragic death of his parents within months of each other, has been jailed for stealing and frittering away the boy’s inheritance she had promised to protect.
Melaney Watford, 39, a close friend to the boy’s parents prior to their death, had agreed to become the legal guardian of the boy as she already had children of a similar age and could provide a consistent home life for a person at such a young age.
However, as she gained control of the inheritance cash, Watford began unwittingly spending the money intended to set up her ward’s future.
It has been alleged that Watford frequently withdrew around £250 between May 2015 and January 2019.
Despite enjoying the exorbitant and daily supplementary income, she is unable to repay any ill-gotten gains.
Watford has argued that the majority of the money has paid to renovate the boy’s home that he is set to inherit when he turns 18 later this year.
It has transpired that she employed family friends and boyfriends to carry out the home improvements. However, a recent survey has suggested that any work carried out is inadequate and the state of the property is poor.
Although it is claimed that the money was not spent on herself, other than to purchase her family regular takeaway food and dentistry bills, Watford had chipped away at a sizeable chunk of the boy’s inheritance.
However innocent and naïve the withdrawals were, it is thought that Watford has spent between £30,000 and £60,000 of the estate. A sum she is unable to pay back.
It is also alleged that Watford placed the boy’s house up for sale against his wishes. A sale that was stopped by a relative of the boy before it could be completed.
The boy will now inherit a cash total of around £125,000 in addition to a monthly payment of £200.
After considering the case, the residing judge, Aidan Christie QC, claimed that Watford had pooled the inheritance with her own money and although the offence may have been inadvertent and without unscrupulous intent, the theft was serious, the trust of her position was exploited and the offence should carry a custodial sentence.
After pleading guilty to one case of fraud by abuse of position, Watford was jailed to three years and two months in prison.
Aiden Christie QC, Presiding Judge in the case, commented:
“This offence is so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified.
“Obviously you are of limited means and no amount I could realistically order you to pay could compensate this young man for what you have put him through.
“I know that (£1,500 compensation) will not compensate him for the monetary loss he suffered, never mind the emotional loss.”
June Warwick, lawyer for the defendant, said:
“The defendant took on a young boy who lost two parents in tragic circumstances and for the first six months there was no income, no financial or emotional support’.
“She has limited education and no knowledge of trusts and she had no guidance or information. She then treated the money in the same way she treated the children and put it all together and mismanaged it. There were no luxuries, no holidays. All she benefited from was the odd takeaway and a trip to the dentist.”
How common are cases like these concerning deputies or attorneys exploiting their position?
