Anita George ‘took over’ Ian and Margaret Percival’s lives (Image: Family handout)
A cancer nurse has been struck off after abusing her position in a bid to inherit from two pensioners.
Anita George “took over” Ian Percival and his wife Margaret’s lives after grooming the couple following a “chance” encounter as Mr Percival was walking his dog, Snowy, near his home in .
Three days after meeting the wealthy businessman, Mrs George moved into one of his properties to help care for Margaret, who had mobility issues, under a private arrangement not agreed via the .
Son Richard said: “She took over our parents’ lives. She was constantly with them… Mum was getting excluded. I felt she (George) had full control… Things she did changed everything.”
The couple’s daughter, Helen, told : “I trusted her because she was a nurse at a local hospital.”
Things started to change before Mr Percival died in 2016, with George alleged to have refused to look after Margaret, lavishing more attention on Ian.
Ian Percival was walking his dog, Snowy, along the coast near his home when he met Anita George (Image: Sky)
Richard and Helen learned of the extent of George’s involvement with their father after his death, claiming the now former nurse started an inappropriate relationship with Ian and manipulated him for her own financial gain. Margaret moved to Australia where she died in 2018.
The siblings uncovered evidence of George’s “grooming” of their father, including Mr Percival giving her £15,000 in cash and shares as well as a car. He also left her a property valued at hundreds of thousands.
Mrs George insisted these were gifts, but regulator the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), which struck her off its register, found the former nurse breached professional boundaries, including by abusing a position of trust “to gain an inheritance” from Mr Percival.
It also found George, who was working as a nurse at the chemotherapy department at Singleton Hospital NHS Trust when she met Mr Percival in 2012, either listed or allowed herself to be listed as next of kin and adoptive daughter in actions motivated “by the pursuit of financial gain”.
She also acted in an “unprofessional” and “abusive” manner towards “vulnerable” victims, perpetrated a “long-standing deception” and misused her power, bringing her profession into disrepute, the hearing found.
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Helen and Richard have called for the rules around carers to be tightened up (Image: Sky)
The NMC directed its toughest sanction against George at the end of a hearing in December. Its report details how the Percivals, who were married more than 50 years, were especially “vulnerable” in part because of the distance between them and their children, who live in Australia.
A Swansea Bay University Health Board spokesperson said the organisation was “appalled” in light of the NMC’s findings and wanted to state clearly to the family it was very sorry about what happened.
The Board said it will be reviewing the case, adding: “It is important, however, to clarify that the inappropriate financial relationships did not relate to care provided within an NHS context.”
South Wales Police carried out an investigation, but charges were not brought against Mrs George, according to Sky News. Express.co.uk has also approached the force.
Richard and Helen have said they want the case to be reopened and tougher rules on carers to be introduced, including background checks.
Express.co.uk has attempted to contact George via her representative at the hearing. Her legal team had argued all the charges related to George’s personal life and conduct outside her job as a nurse.
They said as George is now married she is in “a different place”, adding a written reflection submitted to the hearing panel showed she had “insight and reflection” into her conduct.
The legal team argued George was a “good” nurse, citing “numerous” testimonials as well as no previous regulatory concerns about her ability and fitness to practise.