Cruel thief blew £100,000 he stole from his own gran

A YOUNG car mechanic who stole more than £117,000 from his 81-year-old grandmother has been ordered to pay her back just £13,000.

Derby Crown Court heard how Tyler Wiggins must sell all of his assets to raise the sum, which is a fraction of what he took from his relative.

The short hearing was told how the 23-year-old, who was jailed in March, refused to leave his cell to attend court.

And if he does not pay his gran the cash within three months he could have an additional nine months added to the 18 he is already serving.

Recorder Adrian Reynolds said: “I find that the benefit figure was £117,256.60 and the available amount is £13,000 which are assets already in the possession of the police.”

The hearing took place under the Proceeds of Crime Act, which allows the police to apply for cash to be seized from criminals who have made money from ill-gotten gains. It is typically used after drug dealers have been sentenced and can see criminals forced to sell properties, cars or jewellery that belongs to them to pay the cash back.

The money in this instance will be paid as compensation to Wiggins’ victim.

At his sentencing hearing in March the same court heard how the defendant moved to live with his auntie in Brassington

to escape drug and gambling issues and promptly stole the cash from his 81-year-old grandmother.

He bought motorbikes and other high-value items after seeing where his victim kept the passwords to her bank accounts at the retirement home where she lived.

When he was caught he fled the area but after he was arrested and interviewed by the police he denied any wrongdoing, saying she was

“rich and could easily afford it”.

Jailing him for 18 months at that March hearing, Judge Robert Egbuna said: “She was 81 and a lonely individual and she felt in some ways isolated. “You thought you would get a thrill at the expense of your grandmother.” David Outterside, prosecuting, said Wiggins went to live with his aunt in Brassington,

in late 2018 to get away from problems he was having in the West Midlands.

Wiggins, of Oval Road, Erdington, Birmingham pleaded guilty to theft.

Lucy Jones, mitigating, said her client left home at 16 with six GCSES and became an apprentice mechanic and has worked for Volkswagen and Pirelli.

Miss Jones said: “A number of high-value items were purchased by the defendant.

“They include two motorbikes, a watch and an ipad which are in the possession of the aunt and will go some way to paying back what he took.

“He was suffering with drug and alcohol issues and had debt.”

You thought you would get a thrill at the expense of your grandmother.

Judge Robert Egbuna