In This Issue
Westland buy Gardman
Gardman was on brink of Administration
Jail for garden centre owner who stole almost half a million from elderly mother
Great start to Christmas sales in garden centres
Westland are Choice Supplier of the Year
Resentments simmer as town loses garden centre
Group appointments signal opportunities ahead
GIMA Knowledge Exchange Workshops – four more confirmed for autumn/winter schedule
Japanese Award for T&M’s Sunflower SunBelievable ‘Brown Eyed Girl’
Home Garden Conference: how to reach the next generations?
New Sales Structure for AMES UK
Christmas department opens at Haskins Garden Centres
Johnsons of Whixley announces first two management trainees as it gears up for future growth
Garden centre helps junior football team look the part
Spooky times at Squire's Garden Centres
Rhipsalis: November Houseplant of the Month
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Garden product sales in good health
Autumn gardening activity boosts growing media sales
New products dominate early Christmas sales
Cyclamen sales reach record high
Hear more about Life at No 27 at HTA Marketing Forum
APL members build exclusive partnership with Home Solutions from John Lewis
The best of last week's
Gardman up for sale
Wyevale Garden Centres agrees sale of five of its largest garden centres to Dobbies Garden Centres
Change of ownership but business as usual for Bransford Webbs
September sales just above average
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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Jail for garden centre owner who stole almost half a million from elderly mother
 

The owner of a Norfolk garden centre this week started a four year jail sentence for stealing almost half a million pounds from his elderly mother.

 

Gary Woodley, of Norwich Road, Aylsham, stole £480,000 from 89-year-old Kathleen Woodley to pay off loans and fund his lifestyle between 2013 and 2016.

 

Norwich Crown Court heard how the 66-year-old, who owns Aylsham Garden Centre, is now “likely” to lose his business as a result of his actions.

 

Sentencing Woodley on Thursday, Judge Katharine Moore said he had not shown a “shred of remorse” for what happened.

 

Woodley, along with his brother, became a power of attorney for his mother’s property and financial affairs in 2013 after she was moved into a care home.

 

But the court heard how Woodley’s brother raised concerns and invoked his power of attorney in February 2016 after significant withdrawals were taken from the victim’s bank accounts over a number of years.

 

Police were informed and Woodley was arrested on September 15, 2016. 

 

He was charged on December 19, 2016 with one count of fraud by abuse of position and one count of theft

His mother, Mrs Woodley died during the investigation on March 24, 2017.

 

Woodley pleaded guilty at a previous hearing at Norwich Crown Court to fraud by abuse of position and theft.

Judge Moore said Woodley used £250,000 to pay down loans secured to his own property.

 

She said £159,000 from the sale of his mother’s bungalow was used to pay off a mortgage on the garden centre.

 

Full story can be read on the Norwich Evening News website by clicking here

 

Picture: Norfolk Police

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