GAMBLER SON FLEECED MUM AND LEFT HER WITH JUST 13p
Mum’s horror at discovering her boy had taken her life savings after she was moved into a care home
A Wearside mum has revealed her horror at finding her son had gambled away thousands of pounds of her life savings after she moved into a care home – leaving her with just 13p.
In a victim statement read atSouthTynesideMagistrates’ Court, Rosalind Garland, 69, said she had been left unable to afford food or drink after
Jonathan Garland helped himself to £7,875 of her cash.
The court heard Garland, 38, of Morris Terrace, Houghton, and formerly of Forster Avenue, Merton, Seaham, took the money in just six weeks, having been trusted with her bank card and pin number.
She had permitted him to dipintohersavingsaccountto helphimout,buthadputaban on her money being used for gambling, the court was told.
Garland will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court next month after District Judge Kathryn Meek said she wanted the higher court, which has greater sentencing powers, to deal with the case.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mrs Garland stated: “This is causing me anxiety and I don’t want to cause Jonathan any problems. He has left me penniless with no money to eat or drink.
“In the last couple of years, he has intimidated me. I think thatI’mtoosoftwithJonathan and he has taken advantage of me.Ihadthousandsofpounds inmybankaccountanddidn’t worry about money but now I do worry.”
Prosecutor Clare Irving told the court Mrs Garland had £18,508 in her account in November 2018, a sum which wasreducedtojust13pbyJanuary2019,ofwhichhersonadmitted taking almost half.
She said: “It’s domestic abuse,thevictimisthedefendant’s mother who is in sheltered accommodation. She paid money into her account when she sold her home.
“When she last saw her balance, it was only 13p. She reported this to the police.
“She told them that he had her bank card and pin but may have been gambling. She wantedtohelphersonoutbut no gambling money.”
Neil Hodgson, defending, said Garland’s life had fallen apartwhenarelationshipended,followedbyaconvictionfor assault and the loss of his job as a roofer.
He added: “He’s ashamed ofwhathe’sdone,heshouldn’t have done it.”