Barbados lawyer Hilary Nelson sentenced to prison for $855,000 theft

Hilary Jeffery Nelson, an 82-year-old attorney from St. James, Barbados, has been sentenced to six years and 64 days in prison for stealing approximately BDS$855,000 from a client. The theft occurred between November 2018 and March 2019.

The victim, Errol Hewitt, a resident of the United Kingdom, had transferred the funds to Nelson’s client account to facilitate the purchase of a US$450,000 property in St. Peter, Barbados. While a 10 percent deposit was paid to the seller, Nelson failed to transfer the remaining balance. As a result, Hewitt was forced to continue paying mortgage interest on his UK home while facing significant financial and emotional hardship.

In sentencing Nelson at the No. 5 Supreme Court, Justice Pamela Beckles described the crime as a serious breach of trust. The judge noted that such professional misconduct undermines public confidence in the legal profession and can damage the national and international reputation of Barbados. Nelson has also been ordered to repay the full amount within 12 months.