Emma Amey admitted fraud after stealing over £11,500 from vulnerable clients while managing their funds
A paralegal who exploited her position to steal more than £11,500 from two elderly clients under her care has been sentenced to 20 months in prison. Emma Charlotte Amey, 45, from Poole, Dorset, admitted two counts of fraud by abuse of position after a disturbing pattern of deceit spanning two years.
Amey, employed in the wills and probate department of a Poole-based law firm, held responsibilities that included managing client accounts where the firm acted as power of attorney. These duties involved paying bills and expenses on behalf of vulnerable clients, often using cheques or debit cards entrusted to the firm.
However, between October 2021 and October 2023, Amey used her access to defraud two clients living in residential care homes. She redirected their funds to her own accounts, forging payment information and disguising withdrawals as legitimate transactions.
Embed from Getty ImagesCheque Fraud Uncovered
The fraud first came to light when a bank flagged a suspicious cheque and returned it to the firm. A review revealed the corresponding cheque stub listed a payment to a care provider — but the cheque itself was made out to Amey for £3,400.
When confronted, Amey confessed. She revealed she had used erasable ink to change the name of the payee after a colleague had already signed the cheque. This technique allowed her to conceal the fraudulent redirection of funds while maintaining the appearance of a legitimate transaction on paper.
Further investigation revealed that Amey had also withdrawn cash using victims’ debit cards and made multiple unauthorised online purchases. Over the two-year period, her thefts totalled £11,568.
Sentence and Police Response
Amey’s crimes were dealt with at Poole Magistrates’ Court earlier this year, where she admitted the charges. She was later sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court to 20 months’ imprisonment.
Detective Constable Lucy Hale of Dorset Police’s economic crime unit condemned Amey’s betrayal of trust. “Emma Amey was entrusted with looking after the day-to-day finances of the vulnerable, and she abused her position for personal gain — making deliberate attempts to avoid detection.”
Hale also emphasised the broader damage such fraud can cause: “This type of crime has the potential to impact the public’s confidence in the power of attorney scheme. I am pleased that we were able to restore some trust and ensure the defendant was brought to justice.”
Legal and Ethical Breach
Amey’s actions are a stark reminder of the serious ethical obligations placed on legal professionals, especially when entrusted with managing finances for those unable to do so themselves. Her exploitation of the power of attorney framework highlights the risks inherent in the system when oversight fails or trust is misplaced.
The law firm where she worked cooperated with the investigation and alerted authorities immediately upon discovery of the fraud. It is understood they have since reviewed internal processes to prevent similar abuses in the future.