TV presenter faces jail for stealing £120,000 from dementia-stricken mum to spend on handbags
28.06.2024 - 19:31
/ ok.co.uk
Edinburgh-based TV and radio presenter, Hayley Mathews, 43, is facing a potential jail sentence after stealing over £100,000 from her dementia-stricken mother, Janice Matthews.
The former STV2 presenter was granted power of attorney over her mum's finances and used the money to fund lavish purchases including a £1300 Mulberry handbag, swimming lessons for her children, and cash withdrawals totalling an eye-watering £38,000. Living in Edinburgh, Hayley also splashed out on Amazon purchases amounting to £13,648.97, spent £5544.17 with the White Company, and forked out a further £1137.82 on eBay buys.
According to Edinburgh Live, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard that Mathews didn't stop there, making purchases at Harvey Nichols, H&M, Milton Brown and Monsoon, and even treating herself to treats from Greggs, Deliveroo, Five Guys and Hotel Chocolat. Hayley confessed to embezzling £120,000 from her mum while acting as power of attorney between September 24, 2019, and November 8, 2022, when she appeared in court on Thursday.
Prosecutor Nadia Stewart told the court that Janice Matthews was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2019 and struggled with alcohol addiction, leading to her hospital admission under a compulsion order. Hayley took control of her mother's finances, but suspicions were raised about the financial situation following Mrs Matthews' death in September 2021.
The court heard the shocking revelation that radio presenter Matthews faced intense scrutiny from her sister over the inheritance from their mother's estate, leading to a family investigation into Mrs Matthews' bank statements. It was discovered that cash withdrawals had spiked after their mother was hospitalised.