21 years for ‘greedy’ boss in £4m care home fraud
A JUDGE branded a care home owner “a despicably greedy man” as he jailed him for 21 years yesterday for plundering £4million from trusting residents. David Barton, 64, befriended then betrayed his wealthy victims, becoming a beneficiary in their wills and taking hold of their financial assets, a court heard.
Judge Steven Everett called the affair the “most brazen” case of fraud he had ever seen and branded Barton “morally bankrupt”.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Barton was able “to worm his way into the hearts and finances of wealthy residents” at the Barton Park Nursing Home in Southport, Merseyside.
Now the fraudster has been jailed after the longest trial in the court’s history, lasting more than a year.
Barton was convicted of four counts of conspiracy to defraud, one count of fraud, three counts of theft, false accounting and transferring criminal property.
Care home manager Rosemary Booth, 69, was jailed for six years for three counts of conspiracy to defraud for her part in his scheme.
Sentencing Barton, Judge Everett said: “You are a despicably greedy man, a hypocrite who claimed you were caring for the residents. I’m quite sure the person you cared for the most is yourself.”
Among his victims was Patricia Anderson-Scott, the widow of former Everton FC chairman Bill Scott, who lost £1.4million.
Barton, of Birkdale, Merseyside, also targeted multi-millionaires Katie and Gordon Willey.
He destroyed their relationships with their family before persuading them to give him their large classic car collection.
After hiring a “psychic coach” to help “banish” their family, he attempted to persuade Mrs Willey to hand over her millions to him.
But when she died and he placed a fraudulent claim for £10million of her estate, police became alerted to his dealings.
Barton had amassed a collection of luxury cars, including Ferrari and Rolls-Royce models.
His imprisonment comes as the Daily Express’s Respect For The Elderly campaign continues to gather support.