Former Newbury District Council chairman jailed for five years for theft

FORMER Newbury District Council chairman John Morgan has been jailed for five years for fleecing a pensioner with Alzheimers Disease out of £154,000.
John Morgan, aged 75, of Highclere Gardens, Wantage was sentenced today (Fri) at Oxford Crown Court.
During a six day trial, the court heard how Morgan ruthlessly raided the bank account of his friend of 30 years, 92-year-old Beryl Gittens, after he was given legal control over her affairs when her memory began to fail.
When Mrs Gittens died, she was given a pauper's funeral funded by the local council as Morgan had even drained her accounts of any money to pay for her burial.
The court also heard how he tried to abuse his position as a West Berkshire councillor to deflect investigations.
Morgan stole the money in thousands of bank transfers and cash withdrawals as Mrs Gittens sat in care homes. He even funded trips to Las Vegas casinos with her money.
Speaking at Oxford Crown Court today/yesterday (Fri), Judge Mary-Jane Mowat labelled Morgan's actions "shambolic and devious."
"In my opinion there is no degree of trust higher than conveyed by an enduring power of attorney for someone with lesser mental capacity," she said.
"There is no greater breach of trust than the abuse of that power to the benefit of the holder."
Detective Sergeant Rachel Jackson, investigating the offence, said: “This sentence sends out a strong message that abuse of trust offences are taken seriously and will be investigated thoroughly.
“The family of Beryl Gittens trusted Morgan completely and he used his position to defraud his elderly and vulnerable victim.
"Sadly she did not live to see justice done but I hope this sentence today provides her relatives with a resolution to the offence, which was driven in its entirety by Morgan’s greed.”
Morgan, who resigned from the Conservative party following his conviction in November, was jailed for just one year less than the maximum sentence of six years.
The married father-of-three served as a councillor on Newbury District Council from 1984, becoming chairman in 1996.
He was later elected to West Berkshire Council, where he sat on the Downlands area planning committee and represented Leckhampstead, Brightwalton, Chaddleworth and West Ilsley.