April 30th 2024.
Daniel Tilden, a 31-year-old man, was recently sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for his despicable actions. He had manipulated and coerced his elderly grandparents into giving him their life savings, totaling £384,000, over a ten-year period. The court found him guilty of controlling or coercive behavior in an intimate or family relationship, a serious crime that left his victims feeling scared and helpless.
It all began in 2013 when Tilden started making frequent visits to his grandparents' home. He would spin lies and fabrications to convince them to hand over large sums of money, claiming it was for various reasons such as a new car, prescriptions, or even private cancer treatment. His grandparents, who were too afraid to refuse his demands, would comply and give him the money.
At first, Tilden would accompany his 81-year-old grandfather to the bank and withdraw thousands of pounds at a time. However, when the bank caught on and put a stop to this, he resorted to pressuring his grandfather to get cashback at local supermarkets and even arranging meetings at cashpoints for withdrawals. His relentless pursuit of their money knew no bounds.
It wasn't until November of last year that Tilden was finally arrested. He was released on bail but repeatedly violated the conditions that prohibited him from visiting his grandparents. This behavior only proved how manipulative and controlling he truly was. Eventually, he was re-arrested and charged with his heinous crimes.
In his grandfather's victim impact statement, he described feeling like he was "under siege" in his own home due to Tilden's constant visits and demands for money. The police, along with medical professionals, adult social care, banks, and local shops, worked together to gather enough evidence to bring Tilden to justice and safeguard his victims.
PC Sarah Hardwidge, who worked on the case for three years, expressed her relief at the outcome. She stated, "Daniel's offending behavior towards his grandparents was appalling. He took advantage of their good nature and caused them lasting distress in their own home." She also thanked the CPS and the courts for recognizing the seriousness of the crime and handing down a fitting sentence.
Tilden's actions not only caused financial harm to his grandparents but also emotional and psychological distress. Thankfully, justice has been served, and his victims can finally find peace and protection from further abuse.
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