Daughter wins £127k High Court claim for caring for dementia-stricken mother at home after earlier acquittal on theft charges

Bern Rogers has been awarded £127,000 by the High Court for the care she provided to her dementia-stricken mother, Sheila Wills, over roughly 850 days — a ruling legal experts have described as 'hugely significant'. She had previously been acquitted by a Bristol Crown Court jury in 2022 of fraud and theft charges relating to £100,000 she withdrew from her mother's account after Sheila's death in 2020. The High Court found that an informal contract had existed between Bern and her mother, ruling against her brother Andrew Wills, executor of the estate.

Sheila, who had nine children, chose her eldest daughter's care over a place in a care home.

The estate claims it was 'always willing to pay' legitimate expenses but plans to appeal the ruling.

Bern: Mum insisted 'I was to make sure I got paid properly.'