Man who stole £114,000 from mother will now lose his home

David Webster, 60, of Margaret Street, Sunderland, was granted power over his mothers property and finances after she started suffering from dementia.

but, between January 2009 and December 2015, he stole around £1000 a month from her pension and benefit packets until she died in January 2015.

Webster was jailed for two-and-a-half years after admitting fraud in July but was back in the dock at Newcastle Crown Court after prosecutors pursued him under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Prosecutor Jolyon Perks said the available assets Webster has amount to a total of £85,300 - which he applied to the court to be seized.

Mr Perks said: "That is made up of the assessment of the value of a property at Margaret Street, Sunderland, and a personalised number plate, which accounts for the £300."

Mr Perks said £29,658 of the cash will pay off arrears to the care home where Webster's mum was living.

He added: "The remainder will be applied by way of compensation to the lady's estate."

Mr recorder Darren Preston said Webster made a total of £114,000 through his crime and must pay back the £85,300 within three months.

The judge told him: "If you fail to pay, in default of payment you will be sentenced to a further nine months imprisonment."

The judge ruled that £29,658 will go to the care home.

The court was told at a previous hearing Websters' fraudulent operations began to unravel when Washington Lodge Care Home, which was looking after his mother, requested money owed for her care.

In an attempt to avoid paying the fee, Webster had the £58,000 from the sale of his mothers' home transferred into his own bank account.

He was only caught out when Sunderland Council requested access to her accounts to check why the amount had not been paid.

Prosecutor Jolyon Perks said Webster had admitted to his brother that he "had been freely spending their mothers money" and his brother eventually phoned the police.

He said: "His brother was forced to apply to take control of their mothers' finances to stop David from spending anymore money.

"During the time before his detection he spent the money on himself, paying a £5000 deposit on a brand new Audi A4.

"He accepts that he took the money for himself and he knew it was contrary to the trust that his mother had put in him."

The court heard how Webster cooperated fully with police and admitted responsibility for his mothers loss of money during interviews and pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud at the earliest opportunity.

Vic Laffey, defending, said Webster, a former security worker, been going through a difficult period in his life after the loss of his wife.

He pointed out that he had not offended for almost 55 years of his life and has a family that needs his support.