Coventry gambler jailed after stealing pensioner's £57,000 life savings

[dutchman]

Alan Lambeth abused his power of attorney to get his hands on the cash after racking up large gambling debts



A gambling addict from Coventry who abused his position of power of attorney to steal a pensioner’s life savings has been jailed – despite a last-ditch plea for his sentence to be suspended on health grounds.

Alan Lambeth, who is banned from every betting shop in the city, had turned up at Warwick Crown Court in a wheelchair just days after a judge had granted him bail so he could pay his last respects to his dying brother.

His barrister said Lambeth had health problems of his own, and had injured his back lifting his brother after he had collapsed while they were together.

Handing in medical documents, the barrister said Lambeth had an appointment in September to discuss which option for an operation on his back to take.

Unimpressed, Judge Stephen Eyre QC observed: “Mr Lambeth has a number of medical problems, as I was aware of, and of which the prison service will be aware - because these documents can accompany him.”

He jailed Lambeth, aged 48, of The Bentree, Stoke Aldermoor, who had pleaded guilty to fraud by abusing his position of power of attorney to steal almost £57,000, for 16 months.