AN addict stole from his 90-year-old grandmother to fund his heavy drug habit.

Lee McKitterick repaid his gran’s kindness, taking him in at a time of need, by draining her life savings.

Durham Crown Court was told in under a month living at her home in Seaham, McKitterick made 27 unauthorised withdrawals from her account, using her debit card to take £5,292.

By the time she became aware of his activities there was little more than £1,200 left in the account, money she intended to pass on to her son and daughter as a legacy.

Harry Hadfield, prosecuting said she held the bank account for 40 years, but never had the confidence to use the atm, and would make withdrawals in the bank itself

On checking her bank statement, on November 10 last year, she spotted the unauthorised withdrawals, usually at £200 per time.

Mr Hadfield said she deliberately hidden her debit card from her grandson, as money had gone missing in the past and she suspected McKitterick was responsible.

“Out of kindness” she did not previously report her suspicions and allowed him to live there in October and November, at a time he was accused of another crime.

She said he kept asking her for money during that time, as people kept coming to the door seeking payment.

It emerged a lot of the unauthorised withdrawals were made at a store atm in Seaham and police identified McKitterick, wearing a distinctive bobble hat, on cctv making the transactions.

Mr Hadfield said not withstanding that it was not to blame for the withdrawals, Lloyds Bank did refund the elderly customer.

McKitterick, 36, of Glencoe Square, Grindon, Sunderland, who has 16 convictions for 27 offences, admitted a single count of fraud.

David Callan, mitigating, said he blamed heroin and cocaine for his actions.

“He was under pressure to pay off his drug debts.

“His life was ruined by cocaine and heroin, but he overcame it, until the death of his father and he went off the rails again.

“He does feel ashamed of himself and said he feels like, ‘a right b***ard’.”

Jailing him for 34 months, Judge Christopher Prince told McKitterick: “Your grandmother offered you sanctuary and you repaid that kindness by stealing from her in such a repeated and mean manner.”

The judge added it was “commendable” of the bank to refund the victim.