A person who stole £62,000 from his frail nice uncle leaving him penniless and dwelling in "squalor" was jailed as we speak for 27 months. David Broadfoot, 36, preyed on Alexander Steele successfully emptying the pensioner's checking account.
The crime solely emerged when Alexander's nice niece Donna Marie Orr visited his house in Uddingston, Lanarkshire. She was horrified on the state of the property - it was soiled, there was no gasoline and electrical or any meals within the cabinets.
Donna Marie sobbed as she instructed jurors: "I felt that I had let him down." The involved 50 year-old quickly took management of Alexander's affairs.
Following a trawl of his financial institution statements, it was found Broadfoot had pocketed a complete of £61,830 in 195 money withdrawals over a two yr interval. Alexander instructed his nice niece that Broadfoot had earlier received his financial institution card to purchase "messages and tobacco".
Broadfoot - a dad of 1 - was convicted of embezzlement at Glasgow Sheriff Courtroom. The cost spanned between January 2015 and November 2017.
Alexander sadly died of most cancers aged 83 in 2018 with out seeing justice being accomplished. Broadfoot, of the town's Tollcross, didn't even attend his funeral.
Sheriff Brian Cameron stated: "On the idea of the proof, the jury heard that this was a chronic abuse of belief towards your uncle who was frail and dwelling in squalor. For my part there is no such thing as a various to a custodial sentence."
The trial heard that Donna Marie had not been in common contact with Alexander till he fell sick in 2017. Donna Marie and her mom Alexis McGarry visited the OAP in hospital.
He was described as "severely malnourished".
The pair continued to see him earlier than he was capable of be discharged. Jurors had been instructed Broadfoot didn't go to him in hospital.
Donna Marie and her mum had been left shocked once they found how Alexander had been dwelling. The electrical energy and gasoline had been minimize off as payments had not been paid. The council tax was additionally in arrears.
Donna Marie stated: "He was not paying it as his pension was being taken out of his checking account."
Prosecutor Frankie Morgan requested Donna Marie about how the home appeared. The emotional witness replied: "It was horrific - completely horrific - it was worse trying than a hovel.
"The sofa had been ripped. The fridge and every part was mouldy - I do not know the way he had been fed. There was no meals within the cabinets or the fridge."
Donna Marie requested Alexander on the time about his checking account. She instructed jurors: "He stated David had his financial institution card to purchase messages and tobacco."
It was additionally found that different new financial institution playing cards had been lacking. Donna Marie tried contacting Broadfoot, however received no reply.
She finally turned Alexander's Energy of Legal professional permitting her to verify his financial institution statements and uncovering what Broadfoot had accomplished. This additionally included him paying a cellphone invoice and transferring £500 to his personal account with a reference "Xmas".
Broadfoot gave proof in the course of the trial and insisted he had "permission" to make use of his nice uncle's financial institution card. Claiming to be a Good Samaritan, he stated he was the OAP's "solely assist".
However, it appeared Broadfoot could have focused Alexander attributable to his personal cash points. The court docket heard his account was overdrawn 9 instances and that he paid a debt assortment agency £100.
He additionally wanted handouts from associates and family together with £2,000 from his sister. Prosecutor Mr Morgan quizzed Broadfoot over what the pensioner's cash went on with Alexander having earlier spent £150 to £180 per week on meals, tobacco and petrol.
Mr Morgan put to him: "But, £1,700 on common a month was being taken out?"
Broadfoot replied: "Sure."
The court docket discovered after the decision that Alexander's financial institution reimbursed the stolen money. It was additionally revealed that Broadfoot has a earlier conviction in 2012 for embezzlement through which he acquired a 16-month sentence.
Michael Tierney, defending, instructed the sentencing that Broadfoot maintains his innocence however respects the decision of the jury.
Do not miss the most recent information from round Scotland and past - signal as much as our every day e-newsletterright here.