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<\/p>\nA greedy husband and wife who cheated his elderly parents out of their \u00a3117,000 savings and left them with just 28p were jailed today.<\/p>\n
Gary Mansell and his second wife Diane lived a comfortable lifestyle in an upmarket suburb, but dreamt of a living like millionaires.<\/p>\n
After gaining control of the financial affairs of Fred and Enid Mansell through being awarded power of attorney, the \u2018despicable\u2019 couple set about \u2018pillaging\u2019 their savings, a judge said.<\/p>\n
They under-sold the pensioners\u2019 home by about \u00a3100,000 by selling it privately so they could get hands on the cash to pay for a lavish extension and kitchen.<\/p>\n
And while they provided meagre ready meals for the elderly couple, who were living a totally isolated life in the annex, the couple enjoyed the high life on their money.<\/p>\n
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Gary Mansell (left) and his second wife Diane (right) lived a comfortable lifestyle in an upmarket suburb, but dreamt of a living like millionaires<\/p>\n
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Gary Mansell (left) and Diane Mansell (right)) were both put behind bars by a judge for six years<\/p>\n
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Mrs Mansell (pictured) spent \u00a39,000 on cosmetic dental work and bought three Chanel bags and one Louboutin bag<\/p>\n
They had a 14-day \u00a37,900 holiday in Jamaica, a \u00a325,000 kitchen extension and a \u00a34,000 holiday in Cape Verde, Liverpool Crown Court heard.<\/p>\n
In addition, Mrs Mansell spent \u00a39,000 on cosmetic dental work and bought three Chanel bags and one Louboutin bag, while her husband bought her a \u00a33,800 diamond eternity ring.<\/p>\n
They also had short stays in expensive hotels in York, and during one \u00a3600 two-day break they spent \u00a3245 on Jo Malone scents.<\/p>\n
On social media they boasted about holidaying in the Caribbean, while Mrs Mansell showed off a new Land Rover Discovery with a personalised numberplate.<\/p>\n
During the three-and-a-half years that the couple lived with Mansell and his wife, the sole holiday they had was two days in Llandudno, and they barely went out.<\/p>\n
Tragically Enid Mansell has since died, while her husband felt he no longer wanted to live because of how their only child had betrayed them.<\/p>\n
Yesterday a disgusted judge put them both behind bars for six years.<\/p>\n
Judge David Swinnerton said they had carried out \u2018the most despicable display of greed, vanity and selfishness so you could live a lifestyle well beyond your means\u2019.<\/p>\n
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On social media they boasted about holidaying in the Caribbean, while Mrs Mansell showed off a new Land Rover Discovery with a personalised numberplate (pictured)<\/p>\n
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Facebook photos appear to shows personalised number plates on the cars of Gary Mansell and Diane Mansell – ‘Gaz and Di’<\/p>\n
He said that they had \u2018pillaged\u2019 and \u2018cleared out\u2019 Mansell\u2019s parents\u2019 savings, using them as \u2018a cash cow\u2019 and leaving them with next to nothing.<\/p>\n
\u2018You had a position of responsibility, power and trust – all of which was grossly breached by you,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
Mansell \u2013 who was appearing on his 61st birthday \u2013 had earned \u00a395,000-a-year as a manager at the Jaguar Land Rover plant until he retired in 2019 with a \u00a3189,000 lump sum.<\/p>\n
\u2018For many people that would be a decent income on which you could live a good life but it doesn\u2019t appear to be enough for you and Diane,\u2019 the judge said.<\/p>\n
His 58-year-old wife, who drove a gold-coloured BMW with personalised plates, ran a curtain company until being made bankrupt.<\/p>\n
In messages in 2016 it appeared they dreamt of becoming millionaires, the court heard.<\/p>\n
The fraud began in 2017 when Fred Mansell \u2013 then 77 \u2013 suffered a fall and went into a rehabilitation unit.<\/p>\n
His wife, then 75 and showing signs of dementia, moved in with his son and his wife in Woolton, Liverpool.<\/p>\n
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Gary and Diane Mansell (pictured) had married in Las Vegas in 2005 after he split from his first wife, with whom he had three children<\/p>\n
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In total, the greedy pair took \u00a3218,138 from Mansell\u2019s parents, but after food and other costs were deducted, the fraud was valued at \u00a3117,000. Pictured: Diane Mansell<\/p>\n
Gary and Diane Mansell had married in Las Vegas in 2005 after he split from his first wife, with whom he had three children.<\/p>\n
The pensioners agreed to give them power of attorney and move into the couple\u2019s detached home, with their own \u00a3255,000 property and cars sold.<\/p>\n
\u2018Fred believed that his son and wife would look after him and Enid so that they didn\u2019t have to go into a care home in their old age,\u2019 said Charlotte Atherton, prosecuting.<\/p>\n
Instead, she said, they \u2018helped themselves\u2019 to all of Fred and Enid\u2019s money until they were \u2018left with nothing themselves\u2019.<\/p>\n
Finally social workers became involved, and in 2001 the elderly parents were put in emergency care home accommodation.<\/p>\n
In total, the greedy pair took \u00a3218,138 from Mansell\u2019s parents, but after food and other costs were deducted, the fraud was valued at \u00a3117,000.<\/p>\n
Giving evidence, Fred Mansell described the last few months of his wife\u2019s life as \u2018horrible and traumatic.\u2019<\/p>\n
The couple were convicted of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering after a trial last month.<\/p>\n
Judge Swinnerton said the case showed how a family \u2018could be destroyed by vanity and greed\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018You should both be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n