In a case that has shocked the UK, three senior figures at Amberley Care Home in Dudley, West Midlands, were convicted in October 2025 for a calculated scheme to defraud an elderly resident of her life savings. Jamiel Slaney-Summers (65), Graham Walker (74), and Lyn Walker (71) were found guilty of fraud and theft at Wolverhampton Crown Court after forging 85-year-old Rita Barnsley’s will and attempting to claim her £175,000 estate.

Slaney-Summers, the care home’s manager, was additionally convicted of stealing £6,000 from Barnsley’s bank account while she was alive, exploiting her trust and isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. The case, described by prosecutors as a “shocking abuse of trust”, is now recognized as one of the largest elder fraud investigations in UK history, highlighting deep systemic failures within the country’s care sector.

The Crime: How the Amberley Care Home Fraud Was Uncovered

Rita Barnsley entered Amberley Care Home in May 2020, paying £700 per week for what she believed would be safe, professional care. However, soon after her arrival, her mobile phone disappeared, effectively cutting off her only communication with her cousin, Verna Woolley.

During lockdown, family visits were suspended, giving the perpetrators free rein to manipulate and isolate Barnsley. Staff reportedly refused Woolley’s calls with excuses like, “She’s asleep” or “She’s not available.” This deliberate social isolation was part of a calculated effort to conceal ongoing financial exploitation.

CCTV footage later revealed Slaney-Summers stealing cash from Barnsley’s purse and making unauthorized withdrawals from her bank account. She claimed the money went toward “flowers and care supplies,” but investigators found it funded personal indulgences like online bingo and luxury purchases.

The Forged Will: A Clumsy Attempt at a Sophisticated Crime

After Barnsley’s death in August 2021, the trio quickly created a forged will the very next day—using felt-tip pens in multiple colors and inconsistent handwriting. The document named Slaney-Summers as the primary beneficiary (50% of the estate), Lyn Walker as secondary (25%), and offered token sums to other care staff to give the forgery a veneer of legitimacy.

Just four days later, attempts were made to submit the fake will for probate, but inconsistencies and misspellings immediately raised red flags. When Woolley received a copy of the document in September 2021, she noticed glaring irregularities and reported the matter to Dudley Council Trading Standards.

This triggered a major investigation involving forensic handwriting experts, bank audits, and staff interviews, eventually leading to charges of fraud and theft.

Quick Convictions: Swift Justice at Wolverhampton Crown Court

The four-week trial concluded in October 2025, with the jury taking just 90 minutes to reach unanimous guilty verdicts. Prosecutors described the forged will as “a disgraceful attempt to exploit a defenceless woman’s death for financial gain.”

Councillor Phil Atkins of Dudley Council praised the outcome:

“Their actions were cruel, calculated, and motivated purely by greed. Without Ms. Woolley’s persistence, these individuals might have succeeded in stealing everything Ms. Barnsley worked her whole life to earn.”

Sentencing is scheduled for December 5, 2025, with all three facing significant prison terms.

A Pattern of Deception: Slaney-Summers’ Troubling History

The case also exposed Slaney-Summers’ disturbing past, suggesting a long-standing pattern of unethical behavior.

In 2014, while managing another care home, she was accused by Alexandra Cooper-Kite, a senior care assistant with bipolar disorder, of drugging her tea with diazepam, a sedative meant for residents. The employment tribunal in 2015 found Slaney-Summers guilty of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal, awarding Cooper-Kite £33,000 in damages.

Then, in 2023, Slaney-Summers—under the alias “Joy”—was accused of a dog adoption scam, taking £500 from a family for a sick Boston Terrier and providing fake veterinary documents. Victims later recognized her face from media reports about the Amberley fraud.

These incidents highlight serious vetting and regulatory failures that allowed a known offender to return to managing vulnerable adults.

Timeline of Events in the Amberley Care Home Fraud Case

The Bigger Picture: Elder Fraud in the UK

The Amberley Care Home fraud underscores the growing epidemic of elder financial abuse in Britain. According to Age UK, 1 in 20 older adults may experience financial exploitation each year, with losses exceeding £1 billion annually.

Elder fraud often thrives in care homes, where residents are isolated, cognitively impaired, or dependent on staff for daily needs. During the Covid-19 pandemic, family oversight plummeted, allowing exploitation to flourish behind closed doors.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC), which had been aware of previous complaints about Slaney-Summers, faces criticism for failing to act decisively. Regulatory gaps like these enable repeat offenders to continue exploiting vulnerable residents.

Lessons for Families: How to Prevent Elder Financial Abuse

Families with elderly loved ones in care homes should remain vigilant and proactive. Experts recommend:

1. Maintain Frequent Communication: Regular phone calls, video chats, and unannounced visits when permitted.
2. Monitor Finances Closely: Track account activity and investigate unusual withdrawals.
3. Control Legal Documents: Store wills and financial records securely outside the care facility.
4. Report Suspicious Activity: Contact Trading Standards, CQC, or Action on Elder Abuse (0808 808 8141).
5. Watch for Warning Signs: Isolation, fearfulness, sudden will changes, or missing possessions often signal abuse.

By staying alert, families can protect loved ones from similar exploitation.

Why the Amberley Care Home Case Matters

The Amberley Care Home Elder Fraud Case is not just about one woman’s stolen fortune—it’s about systemic vulnerability, regulatory oversight, and the moral duty to protect society’s most fragile members.

Rita Barnsley’s tragic experience exposes how unchecked power and lack of scrutiny within care institutions can lead to devastating outcomes. It also highlights the importance of family vigilance and public accountability.

As sentencing approaches, campaigners are calling for reform in the care home industry, including:

• Mandatory background checks across all care facilities
• National fraud prevention training for care workers
• Real-time family monitoring systems for financial and care updates

Barnsley’s cousin, Verna Woolley, summed it up best:

“If I hadn’t spoken up, they would have taken everything. I just want justice for Rita—and for others like her.”

Conclusion

The Amberley Care Home elder fraud scandal stands as one of the most egregious betrayals of trust in modern UK care history. It reveals how greed and negligence can thrive when oversight falters, and how one determined relative’s courage can expose corruption at its core.

As Britain faces an aging population and increasing reliance on private care homes, the message is clear:
Transparency saves lives—and vigilance protects legacies.