Jailed former bank boss must repay £185k to fraud victim’s estate
Paul Flowers used stolen money for holidays, alcohol and home improvements
A former bank executive from Greater Manchester who defrauded a woman out of nearly £185,000 has been ordered to repay the stolen money to her estate.
Paul Flowers, 75, from Swinton, is currently serving a three-year prison sentence after admitting to 18 counts of fraud by abuse of position at Manchester Crown Court in July 2024.
His crimes were carried out while acting as the sole executor of the victim’s will, a role he had held for several years after developing a long-standing friendship with her.
Instead of distributing the money in accordance with her wishes, Flowers used it for lavish personal spending – including expensive holidays, alcohol and home renovations.
At a Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing on 24th September 2025, Manchester Crown Court granted a confiscation order for £184,862.33 – allowing the funds to be recovered and returned to the victim’s estate. Her family and the charities named in her will are now set to receive the restitution.
The investigation was led by Greater Manchester Police’s Economic Crime Unit, which played a key role in securing the POCA order.
Detective Constable Kate Riley, a fraud investigations officer at GMP, said:
“Getting Flowers’ ill-gotten money back and into the right hands is a further layer of justice that I am pleased has happened.
He is still serving his time in prison for his crimes – exploiting a vulnerable woman for his own self-serving needs. This order means the money he took can go back to where his victim intended.”
Flowers was first sentenced in February 2025. His conviction and the latest POCA ruling mark a significant outcome in GMP’s ongoing work to bring financial criminals to justice.
Anyone with information about financial fraud can contact Greater Manchester Police or report anonymously via Crimestoppers.