Jail for Burnley thief who befriended war veteran before raiding bank account

Vulnerable victim Kenneth Dawson, 89, who had up to £1,800 fleeced from his account, said it was right Paul Youngs went to prison.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Mr Dawson, who was sat in the public gallery for the sentencing, said: "He's got exactly what he deserves. I found the whole experience very upsetting and shed a tear after the sentencing.

"I'm just so glad it's all over now and I can move on with my life."

Burnley Magistrates' Court heard how ex-care worker Youngs, 53, targeted and stole from vulnerable Mr Dawson, known as Ken, who he had met at Rosegrove Unity Working Men's Club, on Rossendale Road.

Mr Dawson, a committee member at the well-known club for many years, has difficulty walking and Youngs had started to help him do his shopping.

The hearing 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."

Jobless Youngs, of Stansfield Street, Burnley, owned up to stealing off Mr Dawson, but claimed it amounts to £1,200.

The court heard Mr Dawson is quite specific its £1,800 in total, and says money was withdrawn from a cash machine after Youngs parked his car around the corner so the victim, sitting in the vehicle, couldn't see what he was doing.

Mr Dawson told police he has now been left with a hole in his life savings.

The defendant admitted theft of money at Burnley, on or between March 29 and August 22.

Mrs Yates told the court the victim and Youngs had been friends for some time. Both had been on the committee at Rosegrove Unity Club, but the defendant was asked to leave earlier this year, for stealing money. The pair kept in contact.

Mr Dawson said he had stood up for the defendant and " fought his corner," saying it was a one-off, when Youngs stole money from the club The prosecutor said when Youngs was interviewed by police, he admitted stealing, saying he had been out of work, was struggling with bills and the money was to keep him on the 'straight and narrow'.

Keith Rennison, for Youngs, said: "He would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr Dawson."

The solicitor said the defendant had been employed as a care worker at Spring Cottages, but was sacked for gross misconduct in January.

The solicitor said the money was not to fund any lavish lifestyle. He added: "Should the defendant get gainful employment, he will repay him in full."

Sentencing the defendant, the bench chairman, Stephen Riley, said Youngs had a caution for stealing and added: "We want to punish you and protect the public." "

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Dawson's carer Kaeran Foulds, said: "This is the best result we could have hoped for.

"I believe he's shown no remorse for what he did. He's made no effort whatsoever to pay Ken back, even when he has a car he can sell to make the money up.

"It was mentioned that he lives off income support, but lots of people are on the same income support and don't go around stealing from vulnerable people for a living."

Club regulars also slammed Youngs for taking advantage of Mr Dawson, who served in Burma and Singapore in World War Two.

Dylan Johnson, 37, of Rossendale Road, said: “You just don’t know who to trust these days.”

Greg Aitcheson, 48, of Rosegrove Lane, added: “No-one in Rosegrove could believe it when they found out. There are some pretty low things people do, but this is terrible.”