A MAN who carried out the 'mean' spirited theft of £7,000 from his own grandmother's bank account has avoided being jailed.

Craig Bailey dipped into her bank account repeatedly over a seven month period and stole £7,000 from the pensioner.

His offending only came to light after it was noticed that a significant amount of money was missing from the victim's bank saving.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Bailey handed himself into the police when he was confronted by his grandmother when the finger of suspicion fell on him.

A check of her bank account showed that the defendant would withdraw £50 at the request of his grandmother before immediately putting the bank card back into the cashpoint and withdrawing a further £250 which he pocketed.

Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said the 78-year-old victim's financial affairs were handled by her children following the death of their father but between February 2018 and September 2018 Bailey had been regularly withdrawing cash without their knowledge or consent.

Miss Atkinson said: "She (the victim) had no idea how and she didn't really want to deal with it and tried to block it out. She thought it was a mistake and didn't tell any of her family members as she didn't want to worry them."

Initially she didn't want the police involved but following a family meeting it was decided to confront the 37-year-old with their suspicions.

She added: "The defendant went to see her the next day and she repeatedly asked if he had been stealing from her because that was all that she wanted to hear.

"He didn't give any answer and left the house with his head down. He went to the police and told them what had happened – he admitted stealing £7,000."

The court heard how Bailey was drinking up to a litre of spirits a day at the time of his offending due to personal problems in his life.

Bailey, of Highmead Walk, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to one charge of theft.

Simon Walker, mitigating, said his client had sorted out his alcohol problem and wanted to make amends with his family.

"He has had to live with the shame and guilt for what he did, for the last two years," he said. "It is a mean offence, even if it is committed in desperation. It was an offence carried out without sophistication, he was going to the bank in his work clothes."

Judge Deborah Goodwin sentenced Bailey to 12 months in custody, suspended from two years. She said: "It was a particularly mean offence, stealing from an elderly relative, and you can understand how she could feel reluctance to suspect you being prosecuted for money going missing from her account.

"When she told you she would call the police, you went there yourself and told them you had stolen £7,000."

Bailey was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work at attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.