Man stole from gran
Over £2500 taken from account
A man who stole more than £2500 from his grandmother’s bank account has been branded “morally reprehensible”.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard Callum Pepper persuaded the 78-year-old to open an account for him in connection with his dog walking venture.
Pepper had been refused his own bank account because of his previous credit history.
When his gran opened one for him he had online access to all of her accounts and helped himself to £2550.
Neil Thomson, prosecuting, told the court: “There were at least six transactions between January and March this year. He transferred sums of up to £900 at a time.”
Pepper, 26, of Maxwell Crescent, Blantyre, claimed in court the money was not for his business but to pay drug dealers.
Defence lawyer Euan Cameron explained: “There was a sizeable drug debt. He had received threats and there was also low level violence.
“In desperation he behaved in this fashion.”
Mr Cameron said his client earns up to £1200 per month from his dog walking business, Handy Huskies, adding: “He feels a degree of shame and desires to pay back his grandmother.”
Sheriff Allan Mckay told Pepper: “Not only was this morally reprehensible, it was a concerted criminal effort over a substantial period involving a lady you knew intimately.
“The premeditated nature of the offence in relation to the victim I find somewhat astonishing.
“You took advantage of her in circumstances which are, frankly, unacceptable.”
Pepper spent three weeks in custody awaiting sentence after pleading guilty.
But, in the light of a positive criminal justice social work report, the sheriff released him on an 18-month supervision order.
Pepper must also complete 135 hours of unpaid community work and will be electronically tagged for 100 days.
Sheriff Mckay told him: “I hope the money will be paid back but I’ll leave that to your conscience.”