Susan Bruland, aged 57, of Banbury, was sentenced to five years in prison for two counts of fraud by abuse of position at Oxford Crown Court after she previously pleaded guilty to both counts at a hearing at the same court on 15 August following a Thames Valley Police investigation.
Bruland had her own book keeping business and was a trusted friend of the elderly couple she had POA for. They believed her position as a bookkeeper made her trustworthy and reliable.
But as the Judge said Bruland was given one of the most responsible positions there can be and callously disregarded this for her own means.
Between July 2022 and October 2023, in her capacity as their POA, Bruland transferred a total of £901,498.23 from their bank accounts into accounts controlled by her, for her own personal use.
The transfers began on 27 July 2022, when £19,200 was moved from the couple's joint account to Bruland's personal account, the same amount was transferred again just a few days later. This was followed by numerous transfers until 30 December 2022, at which point the victims' account was virtually empty and the fees for the couple's care home were unpaid.
Police enquiries showed that in March 2023, Bruland had transferred £25,000 to two separate recipients who claimed to work for an investment platform. She then began opening a number of bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, investing £150,000 of the stolen money in crypto.
Between April 2023 and June 2023, Bruland continued transferring tens of thousands of pounds from one of the couple's accounts into her own. Throughout May, Bruland sent £44,978 to unknown recipients, again as part of a crypto investment. Around this time Bruland's account was closed by the bank due to fraud concerns.
Bruland was arrested by police on 17 January 2024 and told officers that she had borrowed the money from the couple to support her business. The police investigation could not find any evidence of any agreement in place between Bruland and the couple, or any record of how the money was invested or spent.
Thames Valley Police's central fraud unit, said: 'In total Bruland took over £900,000 from two elderly vulnerable people she was given responsibility to act for. Bruland demonstrated a complete disregard for the position of trust she had been placed in, and neglected the responsibility she held to act in the best interest of the victims. Bruland has offered little remorse or explanation for her actions.
Bruland pleaded guilty to all charges due to the overwhelming evidence presented following a meticulous investigation The substantial sentence of five years imprisonment shows that the offences committed were at the top of the scale for fraud offences.
Risks of power of attorney abuse
This case graphically highlights the dangers of signing a POA without careful consideration. At BFN we would urge anyone considering it to seek independent advice and only appoint someone you absolutely trust, and where possible ensure there is proactive oversight from more than one person.
Peter Nichols – peter@bnaccounts.com
Tax Director BFN Accounts & Tax Limited – www.bfnaccounts.com