A cocaine addict who stole more than £12,000 from his own grandmother has been spared jail.
Jake Comley, 24, rinsed his relative’s debit and credit cards whilst living with her in Chippenham between December 2020 and 20 March this year.
Appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation.
The court heard how his grandmother contacted the police when she noticed more than 130 unknown transactions across two bank cards.
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A total of £13,363.53 was stolen from the elderly victim who trusted her grandson enough to allow him to live with her.
The defendant, of Chestnut Road, Sutton Benger, admitted making the ATM withdrawals when he was arrested and interviewed in relation to the matter. He told officers he knew what he did was wrong.
Richard Williams, defending, accepted the custody threshold has been met.
He told the court that Comley was using up to £200 of cocaine a day at the time of his offending and he used the stolen funds to pay off huge drug-related debts.
Williams said his client had since stopped using drugs thanks to support from the charity Turning Point and has found work, albeit on a low wage.
District judge Joanna Dickens sentenced him to 18 weeks imprisonment but suspended it for 18 months. Comley was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
No compensation was awarded to his grandmother due to the defendant’s lack of means. He must pay £85 costs and a £158 victim surcharge.
