A Canberra man who defrauded his disabled friend, withdrawing money from his accounts after he was given power of attorney, has been given a suspended sentence by the ACT Supreme Court.

Jonathan Maher, 57, was found guilty of 28 charges of obtaining property and financial advantage by deception, which had been reduced from nearly 300 original charges.

The court heard Maher's friend had been in a car accident, which left him a quadriplegic.

The man is now wheelchair bound, and has carers to look after him.

He said he was in hospital in Sydney for a year recovering and gave Maher power of attorney to help him manage his affairs.

Some withdrawals authorised

During the hearings, the man was taken through his bank account statements, asking which he had authorised and which he did not.

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