A care home manager has been sentenced to more than five years in prison after orchestrating a callous plot to defraud a vulnerable 85-year-old resident of her entire life savings.
The Shocking Fraud Uncovered
Jamiel Slaney-Summers, 65, was jailed for five and a half years at Wolverhampton Crown Court for her central role in the scheme. She, along with care home operators Graham Walker, 74, and his wife Lyn, 71, fabricated a will to steal £178,000 from Rita Barnsley after her death in August 2021.
The trio ran the Amberley Care Home in Brierley Hill, West Midlands, where Rita had been a resident since May 2020. Instead of providing care, they targeted her, believing she was "well off". The fraudulent will, which emerged the day after Rita's death, left Slaney-Summers 50% of the estate and Lyn Walker 25%, with £5,000 purportedly for staff.
Grooming, Isolation and a 'Dodgy' Will
Judge John Butterfield KC stated that Slaney-Summers had "groomed and isolated" Ms Barnsley, who suffered from failing eyesight and frailty. He condemned the defendant's "sanctimonious" behaviour and the "disturbing extent to which lies dripped from your tongue."
The document was branded a "sham" in court, riddled with inconsistencies including varying handwriting and different coloured pens. Trading Standards officials, alerted by Rita's 82-year-old cousin Verna Woolley, identified multiple red flags leading to the arrests.
Investigations also revealed Slaney-Summers had separately siphoned £6,000 from Rita's bank accounts, which she spent on online bingo. She claimed the money was for flowers and incontinence pads, but was convicted of theft.
Sentencing and Wider Implications
Authorities have described this as one of the UK's most significant cases of elder fraud. Slaney-Summers, from Northfield, West Midlands, was convicted of fraud and sentenced immediately.
The Walkers, from Cradley, West Midlands, were also convicted but their sentencing was adjourned after Graham Walker was taken to A&E. They will be sentenced together at a later date.
This case highlights the devastating impact of financial abuse within care settings and the critical importance of vigilance from family and regulators to protect society's most vulnerable.
