A MUM has opened up about the devastating moment she realised £38,000 was missing from her dead mother's bank accounts – despite her being housebound for her final years.
Sonia Lucas, from Woking, Surrey, says her mum Nora's health declined rapidly after a nasty fall coming out of her house.
In hospital in the head trauma unit, Nora was told she had two aneurysms on her brain and became withdrawn, scared of leaving the house.
Now she and other family members believe Nora's brother-in-law Dave "groomed and stole" from her, taking thousands in the year before her death.
At first, Sonia was her mum's main point of help, but in December 2017 she started to feel "pushed out" – by her mum's relationship with her brother-in-law Dave.
Speaking for the first time on Channel 5's Robbing Your Relatives, which airs tonight, she said: "I noticed Dave had started to be more available… I wasn’t needed as much or asked to attend appointments.
"I took that as genuine help but did feel a bit pushed out. He started to spend more time helping out and then staying over in her home."
Sonia, who barely knows Dave, told Nora her concerns about the relationship, but says a "dependency" had already formed.
She added: "Maybe it provided her a little bit of comfort, having somebody at her home.
"It was made clear to me that they had this wonderful relationship and he loved my mum very much, they were just great friends."
We think he groomed her and stole her money
But in January 2018, Sonia made a worrying discovery. Dropping her mum home after spending the weekend together, she noticed a Post Office statement.
Sonia told the cameras: "On January 5, £20,000 had been withdrawn by cheque from her account."
Her son Elliot said: "Seeing that was quite shocking in itself. My nan would not have anything to spend £20,000 on, being housebound."
Sonia added: "I was completely shocked, and asked her where it had gone. She seemed very confused, but mentioned Dave’s name.
"This wasn’t money that was in a nice savings account, this was money to help her live. Who would do that to somebody they care about?
"My mum told me she had questioned Dave and he professed ‘I haven’t touched your money, I was going to borrow it but it’s in your account, I promised you it’s not touched’."
£19.14 is all that was left, I just completely broke down
Despite Sonia's worries, Dave continued to spend time with Nora – whose health deteriorated further.
On November 13 last year, she ended up back in hospital and was clearly very unwell.
But there was one piece of good news – when Sonia visited Nora's home, she found a Santander deposit slip, dated January 12, which seemed to account for the missing money.
It appeared the £20,000 had simply been moved from her Post Office to the Santander one.
Just a few days later, Nora passed away, and Sonia started closing her bank accounts.
She said: "We sat down with an adviser and explained we needed to close the account. He gasped and said ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but all your mother’s money is gone’.
"£19.14 is all that was left, I just completely broke down."
According to Sonia, the bank manager told her Nora had visited the bank with Dave in February 2018.
She said: "Dave drives my mum to the Hayes branch of Santander. Dave has told them my mum has had building work, paid for in cash by Dave, and the total sum owed to him by my mum is £20,000, which is not true.
"Their story isn’t believed and they don’t let the money leave the account.
"It’s recognised on their system that my mum is noted as being frail and vulnerable, and an alert is put on the account."
I was absolutely devastated. Dave had told the police my mum could have all of her money. Because my mum had died, it was my word against his
Despite the alert, £20,000 is still drained from Nora's account.
After her death, the family discover there have been 62 ATM withdrawals of £300, made "pretty much every single day" over the past three months.
Shockingly, there was even a £300 withdrawal made at 10.30am on the day Nora died.
Elliot said: "The last five, 10 years, I can’t fathom her even being able to get to a cash point, let alone use one."
Sonia was immediately convinced Dave was responsible and his own wife even texted her, explaining she had thrown him out.
Nora's sister added: "I fear he is responsible." Sonia called the police who investigated, but just a couple of days later they dropped the case.
Sonia said: "I was absolutely devastated. Dave had told them my mum could have all of her money.
"Because my mum had died, it was my word against his. They were satisfied Dave was my mum’s carer and the money was a gift."
And Sonia was in for more trauma, when she discovered money was also missing from her mum's Post Office account.
She said: "I’ve totalled up and it comes to around £38,000 that’s gone. And I am to believe that she gave him all of this money?"
Around £38,000 that’s gone. And I am to believe that she gave him all of this money?
Speaking on the show, Sonia's sister-in-law Vanessa added: "If she gave him the money, why didn’t she do it in one lump sum?
"We think he groomed her and stole her money.
"And just because she’s passed away now and can’t speak for herself, it’s down to Sonia to fight for her. I think the police should have taken it more seriously."
Sonia added: "She trusted this person and we had to try and stay quiet – but we didn't have it wrong.
"I know this money was not gifted by my mum and I know strongly this money was taken without her knowledge."
Sonia has now hired a private investigator, who specialises in elder financial abuse.
Surrey Police told Channel 5 they carried out a thorough investigation, which was closed due to insufficient evidence.
They have advised Sonia to pursue it as a civil matter, and will review any new information that comes to light.
Robbing Your Relatives airs tonight on Channel 5 at 10pm. Channel 5 made several attempts to contact Dave for comment.
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