TV presenter faces jail for embezzling £120k from mother with dementia
A former STV presenter is facing a jail sentence after she embezzled more than £120,000 from her dementia-stricken mother.
Hayley Matthews, who was also known for fronting an SNP national conference, took the money after she received power of attorney over her mother Janice Matthews’ financial affairs.
She took a total of £120,000 and spent the stolen cash on items including a £1,300 Mulberry handbag. She made cash withdrawals worth £38,000 and spent more than £13,600 at Amazon and £5,544 at luxury firm the White Company.
She admitted embezzling the sum from her mother while acting with power of attorney between September 24, 2019 and November 8, 2022 when she appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday.
Prosecutor Nadia Stewart told the court Janice Matthews was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2019 and suffered from an alcohol addiction.
Her daughter took control of her financial affairs but concerns were raised about the finances following the death of Mrs Matthews in September 2021.
Father contacted his daughter for explanation
The court heard Matthews’ sister queried the amount she would be receiving from her mother’s estate and that the presenter, who has also worked for BBC Radio Scotland, had been “dismissive” of her sibling’s inquiries.
Family members eventually received copies of Janice Matthews bank statements and noticed “cashline withdrawals had substantially increased” after she had been admitted to hospital.
The court was told Matthews’ sister “analysed the transactions on her mother’s bank accounts” and after spotting around £100,000 was missing decided to contact the police.
Matthews’ father, Alistair Matthews, a retired firefighter, then contacted his daughter for an explanation in January 2022 when she admitted spending large sums for her own gain.
The fiscal said Matthews told her father: “You’re right, I’ve been shocking handling mum’s money and paperwork.
“I’ve spent what I shouldn’t and used money I shouldn’t. I wasn’t in a very good place when looking after her but I tried my best.
“I massively over-compensated and used money that I shouldn’t have but I tried my absolute best.”
She has interviewed many stars
Matthews was arrested on January 5 last year and during an interview she said she had spent money on hampers at Harvey Nichols for hospital staff and clothes for her partner.
Matthews is a former presenter of the STV2 arts magazine show Live at Five, has worked as a radio presenter with Talk 107, Forth 1 and Real Radio and was a newspaper columnist before resigning last year.
She has also worked alongside Lorraine Kelly on the STV Children’s Appeal live show and has interviewed stars including Jason Donovan, Amy Winehouse, Andy Williams, Nile Rodgers and Gary Numan.
She hosted the SNP’s digital conference in 2020, during the pandemic.
Defence agent Kieran Clegg said his now unemployed client was facing “a very serious matter” and had a “very complex home situation” regarding her two children and asked for her bail to be continued.
Sheriff Alison Stirling agreed to release Matthews on bail but told her she should “make arrangements for the absence from your household”.
Sentence was deferred for reports and a restriction of liberty order assessment to next month.
