Scoundrel son David Anderson stole $543,000 from dad dying from Parkinson’s disease
A scoundrel son from Melbourne’s east fleeced $543,000 from his dying dad — who had been suffering with Parkinson’s disease — which he splurged on gambling, a divorce and a new boat.
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A scoundrel son siphoned $543,000 from his dying dad’s bank account which he blew on gambling, legal fees and a new boat.
David Anderson, 44, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Monday to theft.
Anderson, from Melbourne’s east, kicked off his deceit shortly after he was made executor of his father John Anderson’s will in February 2014.
Mr Anderson left all his wealth to his wife, Veronica Anderson, if she survived him and she did.
Had Mrs Anderson passed away, half the wealth would go to Anderson and his sister, with the rest split between various stepchildren.
In July 2014, Anderson was made power of attorney after his father’s Parkinson’s-related dementia rendered him “incapable of making reasonable decisions”.
A family dispute concerning access to Mr Anderson erupted after Anderson arranged for his father to be moved to a permanent aged care facility.
Anderson’s sister, Julie Fairfield, successfully applied to have her brother removed as power of attorney in April 2016.
Australian Unity Trustees Limited, who were appointed administrators of the dad’s affairs, discovered “numerous financial irregularities”.
These included dozens of bank transfers to accounts held by Anderson and other “third parties”.
The administrators sent Anderson two letters asking him to account for his father’s finances but he stonewalled the inquiry.
Australian Unity Trustees reported its “suspicions of theft” to Victoria Police in July 2017.
Investigations revealed Anderson funnelled $542,991 into several bank accounts while power of attorney between June 2014 and April 2016.
The court heard Anderson blew the cash on gambling, a divorce and a new boat as his dad lay dying of Parkinson’s disease in a special care facility.
Anderson was interviewed, arrested and charged at Knox police station on November 12, 2018 – barely a month after his father passed away following “years of suffering”.
Judge Fiona Todd extended Anderson’s bail for sentencing on September 18.
A compensation order to recover the money on behalf of Mrs Anderson was also made.
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