By Lucy Caulkett-
A therapist accused of stealing more than £1.5m from his wealthy mother has been cleared of theft following a prosecution brought by his sister, leaving him very relieved.
Jonathan Feld, 62, of Chatsworth Road, Kilburn, was accused by his sister, Louise Radley of helping himself to 89-year-old Hannah Feld’s life savings after she became too ill with dementia to look after her self.
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Mr Feld was said to have helped himself to large sums of cash belonging to Hannah Feld, 89, between 2014 and 2018
Southwark Crown Court heard he bought an £80,000 Porsche, withdrew bundles of cash from ATMs and went on shopping sprees for “skinny jeans and puffer jackets”. He basically wenton a spending spree.
Feld denied two charges of theft from his mother, who was said to be suffering from “significant cognitive decline”, claiming any money was a gift from Mrs Feld, with whom he still has an “excellent” relationship.
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Mrs Feld retired to Tel Aviv, Israel, with her late husband Monty, after selling the family clock and watch firm.
Giving evidence, Mr Feld told how he was banned from his sister’s home in around 2006 and said their relationship was: “Fraught. Frightening. Non-existent.”
Last week, he was cleared of stealing £1.3m from a joint Swiss bank account, in his and Mrs Feld’s names, between May 2015 and November 2017 after Judge Gregory Perrins directed the jury: “As a matter of law it is not legally theft to effectively steal from yourself.”
On Tuesday, he was cleared of a further charge of theft relating to almost £270,000 he had been accused of stealing from his mother’s Israeli Bank Leumi account between October 2014 and September 2017.
Mr Feld, from Kilburn, north-west London, who had entered the dock carrying a suitcase, clutched his chest, wept and clasped his hands in prayer after the verdict.
Speaking outside court, he thanked his legal team and said: “I’m looking forward to spending time with my family and my mum and the verdict speaks for itself.”
A statement from Stephen Fidler and Co Solicitors, the firm representing Mr Feld’s sister said: “We are obviously disappointed that the jury did not feel there was sufficient evidence to convict Jonathan Feld in relation to the allegation of theft.
“It was alleged that Jonathan Feld, over a long period of time, stole a fortune from his mother who was suffering with dementia.
“There was no dispute he received considerable funds but the jury were clearly not satisfied so that they could be sure he acted dishonestly.”
Giving evidence, Mr Feld said he was banned from his sister’s home in around 2006 and said their relationship was: “Fraught. Frightening. Non-existent.”
He was cleared last week of stealing £1.3m from a joint Swiss bank account in his and Mrs Feld’s names between May 2015 and November 2017 after Judge Gregory Perrins directed the jury: “As a matter of law it is not legally theft to effectively steal from yourself.
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