A THIEF befriended a decorated war veteran in a working men's club before raiding his bank account.

Vulnerable Kenneth Dawson, 89, had up to £1,800 taken from his account over several months by Paul Youngs, 53, after they met at Rosegrove Unity Working Men’s Club.

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Burnley Magistrates' Court heard how Youngs started to help him do his shopping as Mr Dawson has difficulty walking.

After the hearing, the great-great-grandfather, who served in Singapore, Malaya and Burma during World War Two, said: “When I realised he had been taking money from me, it really upset me because I thought better of him. I thought he was my friend."

The court was told how the victim trusted the defendant and gave him his bank card to take out £150 every week.

Prosecutor Tracy Yates said: "Instead, it appears the defendant took out £300, gave the aggrieved £150 and kept £150 for himself."

The prosecution said he took £1,800 between March 29 and August 22 of this year. Mrs Yates added: "Mr Dawson is quite specific it’s £1,800 in total."

The defendant, of Stansfield Street, Burnley, admitted theft and was bailed until November 4, for pre-sentence report and was warned he might get a custodial sentence for the offence, which was committed in breach of trust.

The bench, who said all sentencing options would be considered, told the defendant the amount of money taken would not affect sentence. The court was told Youngs has a conditional caution for theft.

Keith Rennison, for Youngs, told the court the defendant, who was currently reliant on Jobseekers Allowance, was looking for work.

The solicitor added: "He always intended to pay this money back in any event."

Police confirmed Youngs received the caution after he was caught on CCTV stealing £130 from the club's till on January 8. He was subsequently banned from the club, off Accrington Road, for two years.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Dawson slammed Youngs for leaving him traumatised.

He said: ”I’m having trouble getting to sleep thinking about it. I go through it all in my head and wonder how it happened, and why he did that to me.

“I paid for things for him, clothes, food, and I bought him a car. He used to borrow money off me too, but he wouldn’t always pay it back. He probably knew that if it went on long enough that I would just say it didn’t matter about paying me back.”

Mr Dawson, who received five campaign medals for his service as a rifleman from 1943 to 1951, said he ‘stood up’ for Youngs when he got caught stealing from the club, of which Mr Dawson has been a committee member for more than 30 years.

It was not until Mr Dawson noticed his bank balance had significantly reduced and mentioned it to his family friend Kaeran Foulds, 46, that the pair realised that Youngs had been deceiving Mr Dawson, and called the police.

The mum-of-four, of Bergen Street, Burnley, said: “It makes me so angry that he’s done this to Ken, who would do anything for anyone.

"He’s preyed on Ken because he’s vulnerable. He’s committed a catalogue of thefts and breached people’s trust.”