Inside greedy son Gary Mansell’s Barbados holiday after he stole £117k from own parents – and boasted about hot wife
A “DESPICABLE” son who cheated his elderly parents out of their £117,000 life savings shamelessly bragged on Facebook about holidaying in Barbados, drinking Champagne and flying first class.
Gary Mansell, 61, and partner Diane, 58, abused their power of attorney over his vulnerable mum and dad, Fred and Enid, for three years from 2017 – leaving them with just 28p in their bank account.
In dozens of posts on social media, Gary shared pictures tucking into fillet steak, oysters, and being chauffeur-driven to the airport for luxury getaways.
As recently as April this year – while awaiting trial for fraud – he posted a picture of Diane alongside the caption: “Champagne all night for my beautiful darling Diane.
“Happy Anniversary gorgeous.”
He also bragged about flying business class to Hurghada, Egypt, in November 2021, showing off his seat saying: “Wow, should be a great flight home.
“Go to the bar, have a few drinks, then fall into bed.”
He went on to share images of the pair knocking back cocktails at a rooftop bar while staying at the five-star adult-only Sunrise Holidays Resort.
On a holiday to Barbados just two months earlier, Gary posted a photograph of the pool captioned: “Could get used to this.
“Simply paradise.”
The pair, who the court heard “dreamt of being millionaires”, guzzled Champagne in the airport lounge before their flight.
During the holiday, the Mansells tucked into fillet steak and tried oysters for the first time.
A picture of stunning white sands, he said: “Last day on the beach.”
Posting an image of their luggage next to their Land Rover Discovery and BMW – both with personalised number plates, Gary wrote just before jetting off: “Just waiting for our chauffeur to pick us up.”
It came after they “cleared out” Gary’s parents, then aged 77 and 75, over a three-and-a-half year period leaving them with just 28 pence in their bank account.
The OAPs were fed meagre ready meals living a totally isolated life in the annexe of their son’s home in Woolton, Merseyside.
Jailing them for six years each at Liverpool crown court on Wednesday, Judge David Swinnerton said: “This is the most despicable display of greed, vanity and selfishness so you could live a lifestyle well beyond your means.
“You showed them very little care, they were a cash cow for you to enable you to live that lifestyle.
“You had a position of responsibility, power and trust – all of which was grossly breached by you.”
They denied fraud by abuse of position and money laundering but were convicted following a trial.
Enid had now passed away and Fred is living in a care home.
Their offending began in 2017.