Care Worker Jailed for Stealing £75,000 from Disabled Film Writer
Allan Beacham, 66, from Wootton, Kent, has been sentenced to nearly four years behind bars for swiping £75,000 from Alan Pattillo, a vulnerable film writer he was hired to care for. The verdict came down at Winchester Crown Court on Friday, June 21, after Beacham pleaded guilty.
Trusted Carer Betrays Disabled Pensioner
Beacham started working for a care company in May 2016 and was assigned to look after Mr. Pattillo, who was registered blind, wheelchair-bound, and suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Initially caring for Pattillo in Scotland, Beacham continued after the man moved to Salisbury in 2017.
While a paralegal managed Pattillo’s overall finances, Beacham handled day-to-day money and care tasks. He regularly transferred funds for the patient’s needs, liaising with Pattillo’s legal team.
Lottery Addiction Fueled Theft of Thousands
Concerns arose in spring 2019 when a new solicitor spotted suspicious cash withdrawals from Pattillo’s account. Wiltshire Police launched an investigation after reports showed Beacham had been withdrawing money intended for his patient’s care and siphoning it off to fuel his National Lottery addiction.
The probe was extensive, gathering witness statements from as far afield as Australia and the Outer Hebrides, and scrutinising bank records and solicitor files.
Justice Served for Elderly Victim
Tragically, Mr. Pattillo passed away during the investigation. Nevertheless, prosecutors pressed on, charging Beacham with theft of approximately £75,000 between October 2017 and May 2019.
“His crime was against a very elderly and vulnerable man, who he was employed to care for and who totally depended on him. Instead, Mr Beacham utterly abused this trust and position by stealing a vast amount of money for his own satisfaction and addiction,” said DC Nick Bishop from the Regional Organised Crime Unit.
Wiltshire Police thanked the Crown Prosecution Service and counsel Mr. Evans for their role in securing justice for the victim’s family.
