'Carer stole more than £70k from vulnerable Emmy-winner Alan Pattillo'

Allan John Beacham appeared in Salisbury Crown Court on Wednesday, May 31, after being charged with one count of theft.

Between January 1, 2017, and June 1, 2019, Beacham allegedly stole cash from Emmy award-winning film writer Alan Pattillo while employed as his full-time carer.

Beacham pleaded not guilty to the charge. 

Upon retiring, Mr Pattillo, who died in 2020, moved to Aberdeenshire and agency workers from Miracle Workers took care of him as he became more infirm.

Beacham, who worked for Miracle Workers, would visit Mr Pattillo in his home.

In 2017, Mr Pattillo decided to move to a flat in Elizabeth Court, Salisbury, to be closer to his family and wanted to bring Beacham along with him, hiring him as his personal full-time carer.

Mr Alan Pattillo with Allan Beacham. (Image: Anonymous)

Upon moving he also purchased a £240,000 semi-detached house in Bishopdown which would be passed onto Beacham when he died as part of his employment deal.

Beacham was also receiving a £45,000 annual salary.

When Mr Pattillo moved to Salisbury he retained Batt Broadbent solicitors as his power of attorney and Beacham would request money from the company to pay for Mr Pattillo's expenses since he was hard of hearing, registered blind and struggled to communicate.

However, the court heard that roughly £75,000 has been unaccounted for in the two years Beacham had control over Mr Pattillo's finances.

Thomas Evans, prosecuting, told the court that when Mr Pattillo moved from Scotland to Salisbury his average monthly cash expenditure jumped from £258.33 to £4607.

Mr Evans told the court that Beacham's bank statements showed that had spent more than £25,000 on lottery tickets in a 19-month window, adding: "He has developed an addiction to gambling and tried to dig himself out of a hole by stealing money."

When Mr Pattillo visited Braemar Lodge, Stratford Road, in May 2019 he raised concerns about his finances, staff safeguarded him and Beacham's employment contract was terminated.

The "most egregious example" of expenditure was Beacham's requests for money to cover private dental treatment, according to Mr Evans.

Between April 16, 2017, and June 7, 2019, a total of £30,408 was requested from Batt Broadbent to cover dental work but Mr Evans said the true cost paid to The Private Treatment Centre was just £4,298.99.

In an interview, Beacham said he would spend £15 twice per week to take Mr Pattillo's 2018 Nissan Qashqai to a car cleaner but claims he never received a receipt.

Other alleged offences include £750 being withdrawn for a wedding gift for niece Constance Pattillo-Heigh when in reality a £30 gift voucher was given to the couple.

Beacham also allegedly requested £500 to pay for a birthday party deposit at the Rose and Crown for Mr Pattillo's 90th birthday which never ended up happening and the money was not returned to Batt Broadbent.

Once this money had been requested and deposited into Mr Pattillo's current account, hundreds of pounds were withdrawn from ATMs multiple times per week.

Mr Alan Pattillo with Allan Beacham. (Image: Anonymous)

Paralegal Alison Bamber worked at Batt Broadbent during the time the alleged offences took place and was responsible for approving the requests for money, most of which were never accompanied by receipts.

Solicitor Rachel Catherine Wilson took over from Ms Bamber and became involved in Mr Pattillo's file in April 2019.

In court, she said: "I was dumbstruck at the number of cash withdrawals. I estimated £75k was withdrawn over the time Mr Pattillo had been with Batt Broadbent."

Ms Wilson informed Mr Pattillo's attorney who telephoned his bank to put a stop to his cards. She added: "My concerns were sufficiently grave enough to inform the police straight away."

Nephew Alistair Graham Pattillo told the court about the state of Mr Pattillo's flat during the time Mr Beacham had been looking after him.

He said: "The condition of the flat was extremely dirty and untidy. Carpets had been eaten by bugs and every surface was dirty."

Rob Harding, defending, told the court that Mr Pattillo said he wanted Beacham to be his carer forever and claimed his health had improved since under his care, however, family members disputed this.

The trial continues.