Gambler stole mum’s savings to feed habit

A man who stole over £7,000 from his own mother to feed a gambling habit has avoided jailed.

Dad-of-two Jonathan Garland, 39, used his 69-year-old mother's bank card to withdraw money from her life savings.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how he had betrayed his mother's trust after she had given him permission to use the card to buy essentials when he was short of money.

Garland’s mother gave a statement saying she felt that her son takes advantage of her.

But the crown court was told that Garland is‘ thoroughly ashamed of his conduct’.

Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said that between November 2018 and January 2019, Garland used the card to gamble online and ran up a debt of £7,875.

Mr Pal lister said" He abused the trust his mother had placed in him. It does appear that his mother is fairly vulnerable, she does rely on carers to help her out."

He said that when sherealised her bank balance had gone to nothing, she was encouraged to contact the police.

Garland was arrested in April 2019 and admitted what he had done and said "he had been suffering from depression and had been drinking a lot."

In her victim impact statement, his mother said: "I think I am too soft with Jonathan and he takes advantage of me."

Andrew Walker, defending, said: "The defendant is rightly thoroughly ashamed of his conduct here.”

Garland, of Morris Terrace, Houghton, pleaded guilty to theft at an earlier hearing.

Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced him to 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.