A cocaine addict secretly stole almost £3,000 of his nan's savings while running shopping errands for her.
Andrew McCoosh, 24, made various withdrawals his nan's Barclay's bank account without her knowledge after she gave him her card and pin number so he could go on shopping errands for her. Liverpool Crown Court heard that on August 11 last year, she noticed money was gone from her account which she had not withdrawn.
She investigated and found a further eight transactions which she had not made and she notified the bank, said Holly Menary, prosecuting. Menary said: "She had given the defendant access to her card and pin so he could buy groceries and occasionally she would give him the odd £20. But her permission did not extend to withdrawing large amounts of money."
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When interviewed, 24-year-old McCoosh admitted he took the money. He said he got into trouble as he owed his cocaine dealer £2,000 "and had been under pressure to get money".
McCoosh, of Walker Place, Tranmere pleaded guilty to stealing £2,860 between June 24 and August 7 last year. Carmel Wilde, defending, said that McCoosh, who has no previous convictions, has been diagnosed with ADHD, depression and anxiety.
Mental health workers are assisting him with interventions and medication. Carmel Wilde said he is "engaging well and there is a realist prospect of rehabilitation". She told the court McCoosh "cannot do unpaid work because of his current addiction and there are still alcohol issues", adding that McCoosh is currently staying between an uncle and friends.
The judge, Recorder Paul Taylor sentenced him to five months imprisonment suspended for 12 months and imposed a six month drug rehabilitation requirement.
