Crimeupdated 1h ago3 min read
Nurse Rebecca Louise Burwood Stole £750,000 From 99-Year-Old At Bryn Yr Haul Care Home
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Nurse Rebecca Burwood, deputy manager at Bryn Yr Haul, stole £750,000 from a 99-year-old resident. Funds were spent on cosmetic surgery, house improvements, a car and a camper van.
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Struck off for £750k theft
Rebecca Louise Burwood was struck off after an NMC hearing found her fitness to practise was impaired by reason of misconduct and imposed a striking-off order, meaning she will be removed from the nursing register. The hearing said Burwood exploited a vulnerable 99-year-old woman at Bryn Yr Haul Care Home in Mold, Flintshire, and withdrew money from the woman’s bank account while also overseeing her care. The tribunal heard that more than £370,000 had left the resident’s account over five years, including £160,000 from making large cash withdrawals at ATMs.
The hearing also found Burwood accepted ownership of the woman’s house and got her to transfer the ownership of her £400,000 house, and it heard there was "evidence to show Mrs Burwood used the funds for house improvements, utility bills and council tax". The NMC hearing further heard that Burwood coerced the pensioner from 2017 to 2023 and spent the money on cosmetic surgery and home improvements, including convincing the resident to pay £20,000 for a car and £9,000 for a campervan.
Power of attorney abuse
The NMC hearing found Burwood abused a position of trust and power between 2017 and 2023, becoming the resident’s lasting power of attorney while also overseeing her care. The tribunal heard that Burwood withdrew money from the woman’s bank account, accepted ownership of her house and received thousand of pounds, which was used for her own benefit, including for building work and the purchase of vehicles. Victoria Rees told the tribunal that the resident had said she "didn't want anything to be left by the time she died, as she didn't want the government to have her money," and Rees said Burwood "didn't keep any records of the amount of money she withdrew or the amount of money she donated".
The BBC reported that the panel concluded there had been a significant imbalance of power in the relationship and said Burwood had engaged in a "sustained, calculated course of conduct". The Independent described the tribunal finding that Burwood "manipulated" the pensioner into total reliance, calling her "nana" before she "weaponised" that trust to siphon off the pensioner’s savings.
Police and bank response
The pensioner’s bank referred the matter to North Wales Police and the force launched an investigation, after the resident’s bank account was frozen following concerns about spending. The BBC said Burwood attempted to have restrictions lifted and took the resident to a bank branch, where bank staff claimed Burwood was "almost blackmailing" the woman. The tribunal heard that the panel found Burwood told the woman she would not be able to take her on outings if she could not access her money, and it was decided Burwood would only make supervised visits.
Another nurse told the hearing that they overheard Burwood tell the woman, "I will give you the money back" and "sign here," and the nurse reported the conversation as evidence of financial abuse. The Telegraph said the NMC described Burwood’s conduct as falling "seriously short of the standards expected" and reported that she was struck off after a tribunal heard a "sustained and calculated" plot.