Arrest Warrant Issued for Ex-Co-op Bank Boss Paul Flowers
A judge has slammed down an arrest warrant for Paul Flowers, the ex-Co-op Bank chairman, after he skipped court to face a £68,000 fraud charge. The 73-year-old, also once a Methodist minister and Labour councillor, missed a critical hearing to enter his plea.
Flowers Fails to Show, No Contact with Lawyers
Prosecutor Brian Treadwell told Manchester Magistrates’ Court that Flowers’ solicitor had only one brief contact with him. Judge Timothy Smith responded by issuing a bench warrant with no bail option, following Flowers’ no-show and radio silence. At his last court date, Flowers, walking with a Zimmer frame, did not enter a plea and was released on unconditional bail—until now.
Fraud Allegations Detail Lavish Spending
Flowers is accused of abusing his enduring power of attorney between June 2016 and October 2017 in Salford. Prosecutors claim he fraudulently gained £68,000 for himself, including cash from 11 cheques, plus buying a staircase and carpets, breaking Sections 1 and 4 of the Fraud Act 2006.
High-Profile Scandal Rocks Church, Politics, and Finance
The case has sparked major interest due to Flowers’ past roles in the Methodist Church, local Labour politics, and the Co-op Bank. His dramatic fall from grace highlights a shocking abuse of trust at the highest levels.
