A HUSBAND and wife are on trial accused of siphoning tens of thousands of pounds from an elderly relative’s account.

Andrew and Diane Maddox stand accused of fraudulently taking money from Andrew Maddox’s elderly father’s bank accounts to fund a lavish lifestyle.

More than £50,000 was transferred from Lionel Maddox’s bank accounts to those of the defendants over the first six months of 2017, Basildon Crown Court heard yesterday.

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Lionel Maddox, whose health was deteriorating with age, was moved into Westerley Christian Care Home in Westcliff in August 2017, having previously been living with couple.

The court was told Andrew Maddox was responsible for paying the care home fees on behalf of his father.

While living in the care home, transactions from Lionel Maddox’s account paid for the defendants’ Sky TV bill, flights and holidays, and cigars in Amsterdam, with costs totalling £23,000, the court was told.

In May 2018, payments for the care home came to a halt; however transactions from Lionel Maddox’s account to those of the defendants continued.

Fearing for Lionel Maddox’s wellbeing, care home bosses contacted social services, who arranged meeting with Andrew Maddox.

Minutes from the meeting were read allowed at court, alleging Andrew Maddox had accepted he had been poorly managing his father’s money.

However, Andrew Maddox maintained the spending had been done with his father’s consent.

By October 2018, Lionel Maddox’s account was overdrawn and incurring bank charges, the court heard.

Prosecutors accepted some transaction may have been on behalf of Lionel Maddox, but told the court others were suspicious adding his diminishing mental capacity meant he may have been incapable of consenting to payments.

Andrew Maddox, 57, of Bridgewater Drive, Westcliff, is charged with six counts of fraud and two counts of transferring criminal property.

Diane Maddox, 57, Priorywood Drive, Leigh, is also charged with six counts of fraud and two counts of transferring criminal property.

Both deny the charges.

The trial continues.