'Despicable' taxi driver stole £3000 benefits from dementia-suffering mother to pay debts
Robert Macfarlane cashed in benefits cheques intended for his 74-year-old mother
17 May 2011 13:52 GMT
'Dreadful': Macfarlane admitted cashing the cheques intended for his mother
A taxi driver who stole thousands of pounds from his elderly mother and plunged her into debt was branded "despicable" by a sheriff.
Robert Macfarlane, 42, cashed £3000 worth of benefits cheques meant for his 74-year-old mother who suffers from dementia to pay off his own debts.
The thefts left his vulnerable mother with debt herself.
At Arbroath Sheriff Court on Tuesday Macfarlane admitted the crime and was given 160 hours community service.
Sheriff Derek Pyle told him: “A pretty dreadful crime, isn’t it? I was considering a custodial sentence but the reason I’m not is because of your lack of previous convictions which relate to this sort of offence, and that fact, I dare say, that you are still involved in the care of your mother - somebody who is old and frail.”
Depute fiscal Arlene Shaw told the court that Mrs Macfarlane suffers from onset dementia and has a high level of care provided by support workers.
She said social care workers discovered in December 2009 that her pension and disability cheques were going missing.
When Macfarlane, of Waverley Terrace in Arbroath, Angus, was approached about the missing cash, he blamed care professionals and her neighbours.
The fiscal said: “This continued until May 24, 2010. Care workers contacted the accused and he said he believed that a social care officer or his mother’s neighbour was stealing from her.
“Efforts were made to stop the cheques going missing. Mrs Macfarlane was getting into debt and had little money and little provision. Mrs Macfarlane said she had no knowledge of the accused taking her cheques. The accused was interviewed and denied any wrongdoing. He stated that he had not taken any of the cheques.
“He said that his mother was aware of everything and had signed cheques over with consent. He thereafter stated that he did steal the cheques and deliberately did not pay his mother’s bills and he used the money to pay his own bills.”
Defence solicitor Susan Russo said her client had vowed to repay all the money.
She added: “With his mum being of ill health, it fell to him to help her. At first, he banked her cheques, but through time, he gave into temptation due to having a significant debt.
“He is wholly ashamed and embarrassed of his actions. He admits that this was a despicable matter and is extremely remorseful.
“He says he will repay every penny to his mother, who has forgiven him, so he tells me.”
Source; http://news.stv.tv/scotland/tayside/250 ... pay-debts/