A Somerset man has been sentenced to prison after exploiting a vulnerable widow by stealing more than £29,000, money she had entrusted to him to clear her outstanding debts. Paul Johns, 61, who was self-employed as a debt management adviser, was trusted with the funds following the unexpected death of the victim’s husband. Instead of using the money to settle her debts, Johns kept the sum for himself and forged documents to falsely convince her that her financial obligations had been cleared.
The deception was uncovered when the victim discovered a County Court Judgment (CCJ) had been registered against her, indicating unpaid debts. Johns, residing on Prestleigh Road in Shepton Mallet, appeared at Taunton Crown Court on Monday 21 September, where he was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position.
Detective Inspector Dan Watts of the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) said the victim was especially vulnerable due to the sudden loss of her husband and the financial stresses she faced. He said Johns had exploited her trust by stealing money meant to settle her debts and attempted to conceal his crime through forged correspondence. DI Watts noted Johns' previous conviction for fraud and deemed the custodial sentence appropriate. He added that fraud causes significant financial, emotional, and psychological harm to victims, with effects that often endure long after the offence.
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DI Watts confirmed ongoing collaboration with Avon and Somerset Police to pursue confiscation proceedings aiming to recover as much stolen money as possible.