A West Cumbrian man who stole more than £26,000 from his gran has been spared immediate prison but was told by a judge he would have to live with the shame of what he did.
Carlisle Crown Court heard several family members, including Kevin Teasdale, 38, had attended the 81-year-old woman’s home on April 4.
“The defendant was drunk when he attended,” said prosecutor Tim Evans.
As his gran played bingo with other relatives, Teasdale was told to go into another room as he was being noisy. Visitors left the address by 11.30pm, including Teasdale with a bag.
But his gran discovered that cash was missing the next morning and was unable to locate it, with the help of her daughter, during a search. Police were called.
“The defendant was arrested and a search conducted of his home address. Found under a duvet in his bedroom was a binbag full of cash,” said Mr Evans.
When interviewed Teasdale said he had been at his gran’s address but explained that his memory got fuzzy due to a neurological condition. He spoke of leaving with a bag containing a pillow and curtains before saying: “I would never steal off my nana.”
When shown images of the money — totalling £26,060 — which was found at his home, Teasdale claimed: “I don’t know how it’s got there.”
He admitted theft and was sentenced today.
Defence lawyer Marion Weir, mitigating, suggested it had been a moment of madness from Teasdale.
“It is clear he comes from a close family. This has had a significant effect,” she said. “He knows nothing the court can do will rebuild the trust that has been lost between him and his family, particularly his grandmother.”
The court heard of Teasdale sustained a significant injury in a trampoline incident during 2016, and of since labouring under medical issues which affected every day life.
Judge Michael Fanning suspended a 30-week prison sentence for a year, acknowledging Teasdale’s neurological deficit and a brain injury he had suffered.
But he called the offence obnoxious, telling the defendant: “Your grandma has suffered distress and a loss of confidence: if you can’t trust your grandchildren, who can you trust?”
“People will just think ‘how could a man do that to his grandma?’. You will have to live with the shame of that.”
Teasdale, of Far Moss, Northside, Workington, must complete rehabilitation work with the probation service and an eight-week night time curfew.
As he left court, Teasdale told the judge of his gran: “I have not spoken to her since the incident. I would really like an opportunity to speak to my nana and apologise to her.”
During a previous court hearing it was said that the cash was due to be returned to the victim.
