Meg Wynn Owen: Man convicted of stealing £65,000 from late Love Actually star

love actually Actress Meg Wynn Owen has had £65,000 stolen from a friend and costume designer, a judge has ruled.

Owen died in June this year at the age of 82. She suffered from dementia and was transferred to a care home in Cardiff, Wales, in 2015.

Corresponding Wales OnlineHer move came months after her boyfriend Brian Malam, 60, was appointed her power of attorney in 2014 because of her dementia.

Owen has appeared in films, among other things love actuallyand Pride and Prejudice. She also appeared in Doctor Whoas well as the series Up down.

Malam had pleaded guilty to fraud when he appeared in court for sentencing. He received a prison sentence of 32 months.

In delivering Malam’s verdict, a judge said the costumer abused his legal powers and “betrayed” a friend of his.

Cardiff Crown Court heard Malam’s visits to Owen dwindled before ceasing altogether.

Prosecutor Abigail Jackson said Malam stole tens of thousands of pounds from her savings account. This was done through bank transfers, direct spending, and cash withdrawals.

Jackson went on to explain that Malam failed to continue depositing funds into a special account that nursing home staff would use to purchase essentials for Owen.

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The court heard that because of this, the staff had no money to buy clothes for Owen, which meant she had to dress in clothes that had belonged to deceased residents.

Also, the staff had to cut her hair because there was no money to pay a hairdresser.

Malam’s crimes came to light when concerned employees escorted Owen to her bank in October 2014 to investigate her financial situation.

Malam stole £65,000 from Owen over the course of about four years.

Malam said he intended to pay her back and explained that he believed she wanted him to have the money since she allegedly told him that if she died he would inherit her money.

Andrew Davies, Malam’s attorney, said Malam had known Owen for decades and was the only person who cared for her in the later years of her life.

The money was used to keep Malam’s costume design business going, according to Davies.

Malam was sentenced to 32 months in prison for a one-third discount for his guilty plea.