Son stole £189k from father who had dementia

A SON who took advantage of his dementia-suffering father to steal almost £190,000 has been jailed days after his father died.

- ROB KENNEDY Court Reporter [e-mail]

Former “wealthy and successful” businessman Edward Corbett fleeced his father, Robert Corbett, in various ways over a five-and-a-half year period in a breach of trust of the Power of Attorney he had been granted. Instead of using his dad’s money exclusively in his interests, he diverted large sums to himself.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Corbett, of Tynemouth, had ended up in financial peril after his business fell apart and with his gambling, alcohol and drug habits spiralling out of control. Now, he has been jailed for theft just days after his father died.

The offending came to light in 2023, when Corbett was getting help for his gambling, alcohol and drug addiction issues. He disclosed to his support worker he had used his father's money to fund his addictions, at that stage saying it was around £60,000.