Ellesmere care firm boss ordered to repay swindled elderly couple £241,000
A care firm boss jailed for three-and-a-half years for swindling an elderly couple will have to pay back more than £240,000, police have revealed.
David Coughlin, 47, from Talbot Street, Ellesmere, was locked up at Mold Crown Court after stealing from two elderly people in Bronington, near Wrexham.
He pleaded guilty to 26 charges involved more than £100,000.
The prosecution did not proceed with a charge involving a £200,000 cheque which he said was a loan.
North Wales Police said that in total Coughlin had more than £314,000 of the couple's money.
He used £2,000 to pay the deposit on a Range Rover Evoque and also bought wine and meals in pubs, paid £9,000 off his credit card bill, and spent £9,000 on building work at his home.
The matter came to light in August 2016 when police officers from the Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit noticed an unusual number of financial transactions on the couple's account, resulting in Coughlin's arrest and subsequent jail sentence.
The investigation led to a successful proceeds of crime order being granted by the court.
North Wales Police financial investigator Detective Constable Helen Phillip said: "Coughlin benefited from his crime to a total of £314,301.64, available amount being £241,072.16.
"A Confiscation Order for this amount was successfully made against him.
"North Wales Police will actively seek to recover all proceeds of crime and this is an excellent example of a fraudster being ordered by the court to repay monies stolen from such vulnerable victims."
The house Coughlin bought at Lyneal, near Ellesmere, will be sold as part of the proceeds of crime order.
Police have pledged to continue to investigate frauds involving vulnerable victims, and ensure offenders are brought to justice.
Detective Sergeant Bowyer-Jones, of the Protecting Vulnerable Persons Unit, said: "Coughlin took advantage of an elderly, vulnerable and private couple by abusing a privileged position of trust to the highest degree.
"He will now have plenty of time to contemplate his future as his sentence quite rightly reflects the seriousness of his despicable crime.
"I welcome the sentence passed and hopes it sends a clear message that North Wales Police and the CPS will fully investigate offences of this nature, particularly when it involves vulnerable victims, and ensure offenders are brought to justice.”
