The former boss of the Co-op Bank who fraudulently took tens of thousands of pounds from a woman after abusing his power as will executor has been ordered to pay nearly £185,000 back to her estate.
Paul Flowers formerly of Swinton, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of fraud by abuse of position in July 2024, and was handed a three-year sentence at Manchester Crown Court in February this year.
Flowers had known his victim for a number of decades and had become friends with her, with him being appointed as sole executor of the will in the 2000s.
However, instead of safeguarding the money, he used it for expensive holidays, alcohol, and home improvements.
In a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing at Manchester Crown Court today (24 September), a confiscation order was granted to the value of £184,862.33.
The order enables money obtained through unlawful means to be recovered.
The money will now go to his victim’s estate, including to her family and charities she had identified prior to her death.
Officers from our Economic Crime Unit conducted the investigation and have assisted with getting the POCA granted.
Detective Constable Kate Riley, a fraud investigations officer at GMP, said: “Getting Flowers’ ill-gotten money back and into the right hands is a further layer of justice that I am pleased has happened.
“He is still serving his time in prison for his crimes – exploiting a vulnerable woman for his own self-serving needs. This order means the money he took can go back to where his victim intended.”
