Disgraced former church minister and Co-operative Bank chairman Paul Flowers has been jailed for three years after admitting to stealing £100,000 from an elderly friend. Flowers, 74, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of fraud after abusing his role as executor and power of attorney for Margaret Jarvis, a retired teacher suffering from dementia.
Fraudulent Spending on Drugs, Holidays, and Gifts
The court heard that Flowers used Jarvis’s money to fund a lavish lifestyle, spending on drugs, luxury vacations, and personal gifts. Despite being entrusted with her financial affairs, he plundered her savings and continued withdrawing cash even after her death at age 82 in 2016.
Longtime Friend Betrayed by Trusted Minister
At Manchester Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Dean KC described the case as a “story of betrayal”, highlighting how Flowers exploited Jarvis’s trust due to his public profile as a church leader and banking executive.
“This was a deliberate and sustained deception against an elderly woman who believed she could trust you,” the judge told Flowers.
Flowers had been scheduled for sentencing earlier this month but failed to appear, prompting an arrest warrant. He later turned himself in and appeared in court using a walking stick.
‘Crystal Methodist’ Scandal and Public Downfall
Flowers first gained notoriety in 2013 when the Mail on Sunday published footage of him buying crystal meth, cocaine, and ketamine in Leeds. Dubbed the “Crystal Methodist”, he resigned as chairman of the Co-operative Bank shortly before a £1.5 billion financial hole was discovered in the institution’s accounts.
Following the drug scandal, Flowers pleaded guilty to drug possession and was fined £400. Further reports surfaced about his involvement with male escorts and premium-rate chat lines, leading to his ban from the financial services industry by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Former Labour Councillor’s Fall from Grace
Flowers, who previously served as a Labour councillor in Rochdale and Bradford, admitted in a 2016 interview that he had used drugs and engaged with sex workers while leading the Co-op Bank. Despite his actions, he insisted he “tried to be a decent Christian person” but acknowledged his personal failings.
With his sentencing now finalized, Flowers faces the consequences of a decade-long spiral of criminal behavior and public disgrace.
