Family friend looted elderly couple's savings

Widow Ada Neilson, 89, was swindled out of almost a quarter of a million dollars by a friend's grandson whom she took into her home after his business failed. Photo / Alan Gibson

An 89-year-old woman who was fleeced of $250,000 by a family friend she allowed into her home has one message for the fraudster: "I hope you're mighty cold in prison."

Ada Neilson said she had known Brent Gilbert, the grandson of a lifelong friend, for most of his life.

She said he was friendly and reliable when she took him in.

"At first, you couldn't fault him," Mrs Neilson said.

Gilbert, 33, was this week sentenced to four years in prison for stealing Mrs Neilson's life savings after making himself the signatory for her bank accounts.

In early 2003, Mrs Neilson was in Tauranga Hospital for a serious operation and becoming increasingly frail. She gave Gilbert and his partner free board in exchange for their help around the house.

Her hospitality was a favour for her friend, as Gilbert had lost his Whakatane business when it had been declared bankrupt.

The Tauranga District Court heard how Gilbert, a former programme director for independent Tauranga radio station Blowhole FM, defrauded Mrs Neilson and her husband, William, of $243,996 by taking control of their assets. Mrs Neilson said the stress of finding her nest egg had disappeared was immense. She had difficulty sleeping and suffered a stroke which left her with limited use of her right arm and some speech problems.

She felt that the ordeal had "taken 10 years off her life", but in court Judge Peter Rollo said that her resilience meant that Gilbert had not escaped with her money.

He told Gilbert: "The irony of the situation ... is that she thwarted your plans by continuing to live and survive ... Had she died, I suspect you would have gotten away with virtually all of their assets, as I am satisfied was in your mind from the early stages."

Referring to his job as a broadcaster, Judge Rollo said Gilbert used his gift of the gab in a sinister way, to deceive his grandmother's friend.

"The impression I have formed is that you see words as shiny baubles ... mere trinkets, perhaps of no lasting worth," the judge said.

Mrs Neilson told the Weekend Herald Gilbert was educated and shrewd. "But now he's cold and shrewd. When I first heard he would be charged, it was like a huge weight was lifted."

In May, Gilbert was found guilty of four counts of obtaining a document with intent to defraud, four counts of using a document with intent to defraud, and four counts of theft.

In June 2003, William Neilson, now dead, signed an enduring power of attorney in relation to property, naming Gilbert. Said Mrs Neilson: "I don't know how he got it. I reckon he sat with him at his deathbed and talked him into it."

Feeling she was not competent in financial matters, she also signed a form in relation to property, personal care and welfare, giving Gilbert the power of attorney.

He helped her to open three bank accounts, with him as signatory.

In September 2003, he made three withdrawals, using $174,000 of this to buy a property in Bethlehem in his de facto partner's name. He also withdrew $5000 in March 2005.

Realising Gilbert's deceit, Mrs Neilson complained to the police and hired a private investigator.

She received a settlement of $140,000 from Gilbert's partner after the bank mortgaged the Bethlehem house.

But she had to pay lawyers' fees, as well as $46,000 to the private eye.