Hartlepool man sentenced following theft

A man who squandered his mother’s money whilst she was in the care of a local authority home has been handed a two-year suspended sentence.

Dominic Wilkinson, 55, of Hartlepool, pleaded guilty when he appeared before Teesside Crown Court accused of theft.

Whilst his mother was in a care home, Wilkinson had taken responsibility for his mother’s finances which included paying for her care.  However, the care home fees were never paid, and police were informed. 

During a police investigation it was discovered that instead of paying for the care home fees, Wilkinson had spent over £65,000 from his mother’s bank account on bets at a bookmakers.

Hartlepool Council were subsequently left with an unpaid bill for his mother’s care of £78,000.

Sadly, Wilkinson’s mother passed away during the course of the investigation. 

Wilkinson appeared at court on Thursday 30^th May where he was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to undertake 300 hours of unpaid work, pay a victim surcharge and he will be subject to an electronically tagged curfew for three months.

Acting Inspector Derric Wade said: “Wilkinson gambled his mother’s life savings rather than pay for her care in the final days of her life.  Whilst he may have thought that it was a victimless crime not to pay these bills, it certainly isn’t.  Carers’ wages and accommodation need to be paid for, and essentially the taxpayers of Hartlepool are left to foot the bill for his mother’s care.”

Jill Harrison, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Executive Director of Adult and Community-Based Services, said: “This was an appalling case. First and foremost, our priority is to protect adults from financial and other forms of abuse, and we hope that this will serve as a very clear warning to others that we will always pursue justice in cases like this. We will also continue to pursue all avenues for obtaining from Mr Wilkinson the outstanding care home fees.”