Saturday 10 September 2022 03:07 PM Son accused of fleecing his mother out of £270,000 and buying Porsche she ... trends now
An elderly widow whose 'fortune disappeared' after her son allegedly fleeced her out of £270,000 would never have approved of his purchase of a Porsche because it is German, a court has heard.
It has been alleged that Jonathan Feld, 62, helped himself to large sums of cash belonging to his mother Hannah Feld, 89, over the course of four years.
The prosecutor said that Mrs Feld, who is Jewish, would 'never have purchased a German product' following the trauma she and her husband experienced during World War II.
Her son withdrew her cash from ATMs and used her credit cards for shopping sprees in London between 2014 and 2018, Southwark Crown Court has heard.
It has been alleged that Jonathan Feld, 62, helped himself to large sums of cash belonging to his mother Hannah Feld, 89, over the course of four years
Mrs Feld, who retired to Tel Aviv with her late husband Monty in 1988, was suffering from 'significant cognitive decline' at the time of the alleged thefts.
The prosecution allege the number of cash withdrawals from ATMs 'increased substantially' whenever Mr Feld visited his mother in Tel Aviv.
He is standing trial after a private prosecution was brought by his sister Louise Radley.
Earlier this 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 at the end of the prosecution case.
Judge Gregory Perrins directed the jury to clear him of one charge of theft after ruling a person cannot 'effectively steal from yourself.'
Mr Feld, a therapist, denies a further charge of theft of almost £270,000 from his mother's Israeli Bank Leumi account.
Mr Feld used his mother's credit card at shops and restaurants including Yo Sushi, Boots, The Kooples, The Ladbroke Arms and Superdry but claims the widow knew all about it.
In his closing speech, Adam Gersch, prosecuting, said: 'He purchased a brand-new Porsche.
Mr Feld, a therapist, denies a charge of theft of almost £270,000 from his mother's Israeli Bank Leumi account
'He said "my mother knew all about it, she was happy about it."'
Mr Gersch claimed it was unlikely Mrs Feld or her husband would have allowed the purchases.
'Following the trauma they experienced during the Second World War, they would never purchase a German product,' he said.
'The defendant accepted in his evidence that his actions might arouse suspicion.
'He said "It was my mother's wish to use up all her wealth and have the time of her life"'.
'Mr Feld suggested that every other member of the family was dangerous.
'That, you might think, is further evidence of his controlling and alienating behaviour.
In his closing speech, Adam Gersch, prosecuting, said Mr Feld had purchased a brand-new Porsche with his mother's money. (stock image)
'If his conduct looks dishonest,
