Have we done this one? Former freelancer billed his mum £400 expenses per visit :: Freelance UK
If his mother had known best then perhaps he would have felt too ‘supervised, directed or controlled’ to claim expenses.
But an 87-year-old widow with dementia was charged by her son – a former self-employed consultant - £400 in “out-of-pocket expenses” every time he visited her in a nursing home.
The “callous and calculating” 62-year-old - ‘Martin,’ admitted that he racked up almost £120,000 thanks to the day rate, which he said was what he charged his business clients.
Now retired, the ex-project manager told the Court of Protection that it would be pointless to return the money, which he accrued since being given enduring power of attorney in 2004.
If he paid back his mother (who the court heard cannot “understand anything at all” due to suffering from mental problems) it would soon end up his anyway because, he said, she will probably die “sooner rather than later.”
He opposed a demand from the Office of the Public Guardian that he be replaced as attorney by a deputy appointed by the court. “I see no need to replace myself,” he said.
But Judge Lush, having heard that Martin had left his mother’s £29,000 nursing home bill unpaid, disagreed. The ex-PM also failed to buy her toiletries and chiropody.
“Toiletries were free in her previous residential care home and he resents having to pay for them now… He even begrudges her having her hair tinted,” said the judge.
In being removed as attorney, Martin was told: “It would be hard pressed to find a more callous and calculating attorney [as you], who has so flagrantly abused his position of trust.
But an 87-year-old widow with dementia was charged by her son – a former self-employed consultant - £400 in “out-of-pocket expenses” every time he visited her in a nursing home.
The “callous and calculating” 62-year-old - ‘Martin,’ admitted that he racked up almost £120,000 thanks to the day rate, which he said was what he charged his business clients.
Now retired, the ex-project manager told the Court of Protection that it would be pointless to return the money, which he accrued since being given enduring power of attorney in 2004.
If he paid back his mother (who the court heard cannot “understand anything at all” due to suffering from mental problems) it would soon end up his anyway because, he said, she will probably die “sooner rather than later.”
He opposed a demand from the Office of the Public Guardian that he be replaced as attorney by a deputy appointed by the court. “I see no need to replace myself,” he said.
But Judge Lush, having heard that Martin had left his mother’s £29,000 nursing home bill unpaid, disagreed. The ex-PM also failed to buy her toiletries and chiropody.
“Toiletries were free in her previous residential care home and he resents having to pay for them now… He even begrudges her having her hair tinted,” said the judge.
In being removed as attorney, Martin was told: “It would be hard pressed to find a more callous and calculating attorney [as you], who has so flagrantly abused his position of trust.
Comment