Man who stole
SON-IN-LAW TOOK £90K AND THEN £20K LIFE INSURANCE
Ian Downs A THIEF who stole more than £100,000 from his war hero mother-in-law has been jailed.
Ian Downs, 67, stole £90,000 from Mary Garvey before going on to claim a further £20,000 in life insurance policies after her death.
He admitted two counts of theft at Newcastle Crown Court and has now been locked up for two-and-a-half years.
The court heard Downs, of Saint Bedes, East Boldon, was made redundant and got into financial trouble.
He took control of Mrs Garvey’s finances and would give her money for food and clothing, the court was told, but started to deposit small amounts of cash into his own accounts over an eight-year period.
Fiona Lamb, defending, said Downs did not steal the cash to live a life of luxury but was living beyond his means with his wife, Mrs Garvey’s daughter, Margaret Downs. Mary Garvey
She said: “The money was not taken as a result of greed.
“The money was taken to live on, food for Mr and Mrs Downs and to provide a roof over their heads.
“It was for nothing else, it was not for an extravagant lifestyle.”
The court was told Downs had paid back a total of £32,000 to his sister-inlaw, Gwenda, and niece, Angela, without a court order.
“He has done that himself,” Ms Lamb added. “I suggest that shows genuine remorse and Mr Downs is low risk of reoffending.”
The court was told Downs had suffered from bowel cancer and heart problems and is currently waiting test results on a mass that has been found in his lungs.
His wife, who suffered a brain haemorrhage, also relied on him for support.
Mrs Garvey had served in the British Army Catering Corps during the Second World War, where she met her husband, Anthony.
During her time in the military she travelled across Europe and was even credited with preventing the explosion