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Colne thief stole from his 80-year-old gran
A MEAN thief who keeps stealing from his pensioner grandma has been spared jail after helping himself to her pension top-up.
Pennine magistrates heard how Lee Morris repeatedly targeted the 80-year-old, even though she was the only person who cared for him - and even fed him through the letterbox when he was banned from seeing her.
For his latest trick, Morris took her 234 Giro cheque, cashed it at the post office and blew the money on clothes, drink and gambling.
The hearing was told how the victim, Jean Goddard, thought her grandson had "not been right" since he suffered head injuries in a car smash when he was three or four. She believed it had impaired his memory and took the view if she did not look after him, nobody else would.
Morris was described by his solicitor as vulnerable and with significant mental health issues but the Bench said the victim was vulnerable, too.
The defendant (27), of Oak Street, Colne, admitted theft of the Giro. He was given eight weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months, with 12 months' supervision.
Mrs Alex Mann (prosecuting) said Mrs Goddard was the usual victim of Morris's crimes. In April, he had been given a community order for stealing off her and was on supervision for that.
She had asked a friend to pick up her pension as the defendant was not allowed to as he would spend the money. He visited her home on the day it normally arrived and she thought it had not come. Her friend made inquiries and the post office told her her nephew had cashed it. Mrs Goddard had not got any of her cash back.
Mr Glen Smith (for Morris) said his grandma was the only person who cared for him. His mother died some years ago, he had no contact with his father and had not seen his younger brother for some time. The probation service was at a loss as to what to do with him.
The solicitor continued: "You tell him something one moment and he will say 'OK' but then when you ask him the same question two minutes later, it's gone."
Mr Smith said the defendant was educationally significantly below his physiological age. He could not read or write. His grandma insisted he had "never been right" since the crash.
Morris's actions were thoughtless and mean-minded. Mr Smith added: "Sometimes when his grandma has not been able to see the defendant she has pushed his food through the letterbox."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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