Greedy care home owner jailed for 21 years

Barton Park care home

A care home owner who preyed on wealthy, elderly residents to fund a lavish lifestyle has been jailed for 21 years.

David Barton conned residents at Barton Park Nursing home in Southport out of more than £4m over 16 years.

The 64-year-old was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court for what Judge Steven Everett described as the “most brazen” case of fraud he had ever seen.

Barton was found guilty of four counts of conspiracy to defraud, one count of fraud, three counts of theft, false accounting and transferring criminal property after a trial which lasted a year.

Rosemary Booth, 69, the manager of the home, was jailed for six years after she was convicted of three  counts of conspiracy to defraud.
Barton used the proceeds of his crimes to buy several homes and a fleet of expensive cars including four Ferraris and two Rolls Royces.

The pair picked on six vulnerable residents, who were mostly recently-widowed women, before emptying their bank accounts between 1997 to 2013.

Among the victims was Patricia Anderson Scott, the widow of former Everton chairman Bill Scott, who had £1.4m taken from her.

Detective Inspector Jon Smith, who led the investigation, said: “For 16 years, they preyed upon wealthy elderly people in Southport, bleeding them of their hard-earned savings and enjoying a lavish lifestyle of fast cars, holidays and multiple properties as a result.

“Barton ruthlessly groomed his victims, gaining their trust and confidence to such an extent that when we spoke to his victims, some found it very difficult to accept that they were victims.

“But our team of detectives were determined to unravel the truth – that he had heartlessly exploited vulnerable people when they most needed someone to care for them.

“These were people who had worked hard all their lives, only for David Barton to step in, pretend to have their best interests at heart – then take thousands and thousands of pounds of their money.

“His offending came to light because his greed led him to sue a family who realised an £8m civil claim against them was fraudulent.

“I want to thank that family, who have undoubtedly spared other families from suffering the same fate by coming forward with their concerns.”

Barton has been disqualified from being a director for 15 years.

Bookkeeper Kiria Hughes, 42, of Lulworth Road, Southport, admitted fraud and false accounting and was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for a year.

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