John Miller, 53, previously jailed for ripping off customers through building projects worth £220,000, had been put in charge of overseeing the finances of a family member.

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Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told he had abused the position to steal tens of thousands over a four year period.

Miller, of Three Mile Lane in Costessey, pleaded guilty to a single count of fraud by abuse of position.

Between November 2021 and August 2024 he acted dishonestly and to make financial gains for himself totalling £55,191.

John Miller admitted abusing his last power of attorney over the finances of a relative (Image: PA)

A lasting power of attorney is a legal document allowing trusted people to be appointed to make decisions, including the management of finances, on a person's behalf if they lose mental capacity.

The court was told the starting point for the offence was three years in prison.

District Judge Matthew Bone said this exceeded his powers and committed Miller to be sentenced at Norwich Crown Court during the week of May 25.

He was given unconditional bail.

Previously Miller was sentenced to four years in prison in 2019 for swindling building customers for work he never completed.

Miller will sentenced at Norwich Crown Court after magistrates powers were insufficient (Image: Newsquest)

While his customers were left out of pocket, he enjoyed luxury holidays to Las Vegas, Greece, Tenerife and New York.

But his customers were told by Norfolk Trading Standards that financial investigators could find no assets belonging to Miller, meaning he must only pay back £1.

Court judgments taken out against Miller by people he owed money to showed he had been in financial difficulties for years.

In 2020, less than a year before his power of attorney fraud began, eight people owed money by him had outstanding judgments dating from April 2014 to April 2019, for a total of £65,000.

© Norwich Evening News