A cruel son stole his mum's hard-earned savings, which she had intended to give to her young grandchildren.
Career crook Adam Mosettig had only just been released from prison and was living with his mother when he helped himself to the money box in her bedroom while she was at work. A court heard that the victim, who had "little spare cash", had spent years collecting £2 coins to give her grandchildren, which Mosettig knew.
However, the shameless 27-year-old stole all £350 of it and made off. The victim rang the police and Mosettig, of Clarence House, in Shieldfield, Newcastle, was arrested but initially pleaded not guilty to one count of theft. The case was listed for trial but the thief, who has 155 offences on his appalling record, appeared via video link from prison at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court this week to change his plea.
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Niamh Reading, prosecuting, said Mosettig was released from prison on November 12 and his mother agreed he could live with her as he was on a tagged curfew. On November 23, she returned from work and found Mosettig wasn't at home. Miss Reading added: "She found money missing from a money box in her bedroom. She had been saving this in the form of £2 coins for her grandchildren.
"The defendant knew this and was not given permission to take this money. She doesn't have readily available cash and had saved throughout the years to give her grandchildren money, should they need it."
In a statement, the victim added: "Due to the defendant's actions leaving me without this money, I now feel extremely guilty this money is no longer available for my grandchildren."
The court heard that Mosettig had 155 offences on his record, including 92 theft offences, and was last before the court just days before committing the theft against his mum.
John Wesencraft, defending, said Mosettig hadn't spent the money on "entertainment". He told magistrates: "He and his mum were simply not getting on and he looked for alternative premises where he could live and needed a deposit for that and didn't have it. That's why he took the money."
Mosettig was ordered to pay £350 compensation to his mum.
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