Allan Beacham, the man entrusted to care for Thunderbirds writer and director Alan Pattillo, stole £75,000 from him. Beacham, who was trusted with the care of the blind and immobile Mr. Pattillo, used the money to fuel his gambling addiction, spending £25,000 on lottery tickets. He lived in a house provided by Mr. Pattillo and acted in a controlling and coercive way. Beacham’s actions caused trauma for Mr. Pattillo, who passed away in 2020 from Parkinson’s disease.
Mr. Pattillo, an esteemed Scottish writer and director known for his work on Thunderbirds and All Quiet on the Western Front, moved to Salisbury to be closer to family. Beacham, employed by care firm Miracle Workers, accompanied Mr. Pattillo to Salisbury. He was given a house by Mr. Pattillo and was entrusted with his finances as his health deteriorated. Beacham abused his position by requesting cash for Mr. Pattillo’s expenses, leading to a significant rise in monthly cash expenditure.
Prosectors stated that Beacham stole the money with no real explanation for the unaccounted funds, as £75,000 went missing from Mr. Pattillo’s finances. The court heard that Beacham stole cash from Mr. Pattillo to fund his gambling addiction and even exploited the vulnerable pensioner’s finances for personal requests, such as private dental care. Beacham’s offenses also included withdrawing cash for gifts that were not properly accounted for.
Beacham’s actions were described as a deliberate and dishonest abuse of his position of trust in Mr. Pattillo’s life. Allegations were made regarding the unexplained cash withdrawals, to which Beacham could not provide a legitimate reason. His behavior was classified as preying upon vulnerable members of society, taking advantage of Mr. Pattillo’s vulnerability and blindness to steal money from him.
The court heard testimonies from Mr. Pattillo’s family members, who expressed concerns about Beacham’s care. They highlighted issues with the cleanliness of Mr. Pattillo’s home and his clothes, as well as Beacham’s reluctance to allow additional help in the form of a cleaner. Despite concerns raised by family members, little improvement was seen in Mr. Pattillo’s care, and it was evident that Beacham had overstepped his role as a carer.
Overall, Beacham was sentenced to over three years behind bars for stealing £75,000 from Mr. Pattillo. His actions were deemed as a betrayal of the trust placed in him as the carer of a vulnerable and disabled individual. The court highlighted the seriousness of Beacham’s offenses and the impact they had on Mr. Pattillo, leading to trauma and potential deterioration in his health. Ultimately, Beacham’s actions were condemned for preying on a vulnerable member of society for personal gain.
