Former TV and radio presenter Hayley Matthews, 44, has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison for embezzling £120,000 from her dementia-stricken mother.
As power of attorney for her mother’s financial affairs, Matthews embarked on a lavish spending spree starting in 2019. Her fraudulent activities were uncovered when family members questioned the reduced size of Janice Matthews’ estate after her death in 2021.
Matthews had falsely claimed the estate was worth £36,000, despite her mother receiving over £100,000 from a house sale.
A police investigation revealed that Matthews’ spending included extensive ATM withdrawals and numerous purchases from luxury retailers and online platforms, amounting to thousands of pounds.
When confronted by her father, Matthews admitted to mishandling her mother’s money and using it inappropriately. She pleaded guilty to embezzlement between September 2019 and November 2022 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Alison Stirling, who sentenced Matthews, emphasized the deliberate and repeated nature of her actions over more than three years.
Matthews’ actions significantly impacted both her mother and sister, preventing the mother from being moved to a more comfortable care home and causing psychological and financial harm to her sister.
Despite Matthews’ previously clean record and character references, the severity of her betrayal of family trust warranted a custodial sentence.
Lynne Barrie, procurator fiscal for Lothian and Borders, stated that Matthews had abused her responsibility, highlighting the commitment to holding those who exploit vulnerable victims accountable.
