Wednesday 11 May 2011

Horrendous Day

It has been a truly horrible day.  I learnt this morning that my father's second wife, Rosetta, had died.  She married my father when he was in his 80's and was a very caring wife to him during his final years, until he died aged 90 in 2003.  She has had a lot of medical problems since then, and had a heart operation about 3 weeks ago, after which she went progressively downhill, culminating in her death at about 2am this morning.

What turns this sad event into a total tragedy is that, unknown to us, she had been targeted by a conman during rhe past few years.  This man had befriended her and seemed to be very kind and supportive.  It has now come to light that he was jailed in 1997 for 4 years (don't know how many he actually served) for defrauding 4 elderly woman out of thousands of pounds - and has been doing exactly the same with Rosetta.  He gained her confidence and trust, then told her 'sob' stories about financial problems, having things like his laptop stolen from his car, needing to pay medical bills etc and she - kind-hearted soul that she was - gave him money.  We have no idea yet just how much but it's certainly several thouand pounds. 

I had no idea about this until last Saturday, when the police contacted me, but her cousin had grown increasingly concerned about her friendship with this man, and also suspicious about him.  As the police are now investigating, we're hoping they can amass enough evidence to charge him.  In the meantime he remains one of the two executors and one of the six beneficiaries of her will - how appalling is that?  Are there any lawyers out there who can advise me?

This whole thing has left me sick to the stomach.  I know one reads about this kind of thing, but to have it happen to someone you know hits very hard.  Maybe it is a blessing that she did not live to discover how he had completely betrayed her trust in him.   

To prey on lonely and vulnerable old people in this way is so completely despicable that I cannot find the words to express my utter contempt for this man.  He served a jail sentence for doing this, then came out and proceeded to do exactly the same thing again.  She may not be the only old person he has targeted, and is still targeting - who knows?  What kind of twisted, warped personality can do this?  It defies belief, and yet it happens.

I needed to 'vent' tonight after a truly horrendous day when I have been on the phone almost constantly, most of the time going around in circles in a desperate effort to find out more information.  Forgive me for blogging about this, but I had to get it of my chest somehow.

I'm sad because of Rosetta's passing, of course, but I'm also so very angry too that there are such evil people in the world who will take advantage of people like her.

18 comments:

  1. Hopefully this will violate a parole condition, and be counted as a repeat offense. Put the man away. How innocent is his wife? She must wonder where he was getting big sums of money.

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  2. He's no longer on parole and he's now divorced. But please God, it will count as a repeat offence. I'm just hoping and praying that the police will have enough evidence to charge him.

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  3. I hope the police gather enough evidence to put him away for a long while. It makes me ill when I read of something like this.

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  4. So do I, Shannon. I feel so sick when I think of how he conned her. She gave him her friendship and trust, and all the time he was after her money. It's heartbreaking.

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  5. This just makes me sick to my stomach! How can someone's heart allow them to do this? I guess that's what's missing...
    I do pray that they put him away for a long time.

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  6. How awful, I'm so sorry you and your family.

    You see it all the time on 'WatchDog' and 'CrimeWatch'. I hope he rots in hell. It is so sad when people betray others trust. I bet he would be the first to go to the police if someone did it to his mother or grandmother. That's if someone like him is lucky enough to have family.

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  7. Paula, that is just awful. I am very, very far from being a lawyer, but I was curious about what happens in a situation like this so I did some digging.

    I found this link for a UK law firm: http://www.wrighthassall.co.uk/resources/articles/wtt_removing_substituting_executors.aspx

    They seem to be a reputable firm and from that link, it seems there are ways to have him removed as executor on the grounds of unsuitability and in the event of a criminal charge he will be disqualified.

    I'm sure the beneficieries will be taking legal advice - I just included the above in the hope it would ease your mind a little. I'm not presuming to offer advice because I can't!

    I am so sorry to hear about your loss, and also about Rosetta's ill fortune in being targeted by such a monster. His behaviour is disgusting and I hope he is brought to justice.

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  8. Thanks, Laura and Jarmara The man very clearly has some huge psychological/psychiatric issues and needs to be locked away so that he can no longer target vulnerable old people.

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  9. Thanks so much for the link, Ellen, it is exactly the info I've been trying to find out.

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  10. No problem at all, I hope it all works out.

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  11. OMG, Paula. I am horrified to hear of this and so sorry for your loss. I came here to tell you that I awarded you today but it seems awfully inappropriate. But then I thought that it might give you a bit of a smile in a sea of sadness...

    Please take care and good luck with getting all of this straightened out!!

    <3

    Here are your honors, my friend... Be sure to snatch it up and YAY!!!

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  12. Thanks so much, San - I definitely needed something to brighten up my day, and the lovely awards have done just that.

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  13. This is horrible I am so sad to hear about this. It is bad enough that people con others but what makes it even worse is that they generally go after those who have very little anyways. I'm so sorry for your loss.

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  14. Thank you, Josh. I still feel completely sickened about it all, but am just glad Rosetta never had to learn how he had taken advantage of her genuine kind-heartedness.

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  15. Paula, I am so, so sorry to hear all this. I am sorry to hear about Rosetta's passing. She sounds like a very caring and generous woman - and as you commented above, I am also glad she never had to learn about this wicked man who took advantage of her. I hope you are able to bring him to justice. I see this occasionally in my line of work and it never fails to break my heart. You are in my prayers.

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  16. Thanks, Susan. Rosetta saw good in everyone - maybe that made her gullible, but she really was the most kind-heartd and caring woman who would never hurt anyone.
    Unfortunately, our 'evidence' cannot bring him to justice, as it is classed as hearsay which is technically not accepted in a court case. Taking advantage of someone's kindheartedness is not considered a crime; it has to be proved that there was 'intent to defraud'.
    But the police will compile a report which will go on his police file and could possibly be used against him at some point in the future. Meanwhile, he can continue targetting elderly and vulnerable people. It seeems so WRONG!

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  17. Oh Paula, that is such sad news. I am so sorry that the death was compounded for you. However, it does show what a lovely, kind and generous person Rosetta was so she will most certainly rest in peace. Prayers and hugs x

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  18. Thank you so much, Madeleine.

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