Former STV Host Jailed for Embezzlement of Thousands From Her Mother

A woman who embezzled thousands of pounds from her dementia-stricken mother has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

Hayley Matthews, 44, of Edinburgh, spent lavishly after stealing £120,000 from her mother’s bank accounts between September 2019 and November 2022.

Her scheme was uncovered when other family members questioned the size of Janice Matthews’ estate following her death in 2021 at Finlay House, part of Edinburgh’s East General Hospital.

Matthews, a former STV host and columnist for the Edinburgh Evening News, held power of attorney over her mother’s financial affairs. She was sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after admitting to embezzlement.

The court heard that Matthews claimed her mother’s estate was valued at £36,000, but her sister questioned this and obtained financial statements from the bank. These statements revealed a significant increase in ATM withdrawals after Janice Matthews was admitted to the hospital, with misappropriated funds exceeding £100,000.

A police investigation showed Matthews’ spending included 371 PayPal transactions totalling £46,763, ATM withdrawals amounting to £38,000, Amazon purchases worth £13,649, a Mulberry handbag costing £1,371, and items from the White Company valued at £5,544. Additional spending was recorded at Harvey Nichols, Kurt Geiger, Molton Brown, and Marks & Spencer.

When Matthews’ father, Alistair Matthews, confronted her in January 2022, she admitted to spending large sums for her own gain. In text exchanges, she wrote, “You’re right, I’ve been shocking at handling mum’s money and paperwork. I’ve spent what I shouldn’t and used money I shouldn’t. I wasn’t in a very good place when looking after her, but I tried my best.”