Darlington paedophile stole £72,000 from his mother

Daniel Bateman syphoned off his mother’s cash over a five-year period and it only came to light when her care home told her she was unable to cover her fees.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 32-year-old had nothing tangible to show for his cruel deception of his mother.

Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said his repeated theft had left his mother penniless and feeling ‘utterly betrayed’ by her son.

She told the judge that Bateman had started using his mother’s bank card before transferring cash into his own bank account after cancelling her paper statements and setting up online banking.

“It came to light when she could no longer afford her care home fees of £500 a month and her account was repeatedly overdrawn,” she said.

Miss Buck said the defendant had only recently been released from prison. He was jailed for three years in 2022 after he struck up a conversation with the undercover officer, who was posing as another online paedophile on the social messaging app, KIK.

The court heard how the defendant’s mother received the cash following the death of her husband.

In a victim impact statement, she said: “I feel totally betrayed by Daniel, he has left me feeling anxious and upset.

“He has taken all of my money and left me feeling vulnerable.”

Daniel Bateman (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Bateman, of Eldon Street, Darlington, who appeared in court via a video link from prison, had pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation between November 2016 and August 2021 when he stole a total of £72,228.

Emma Williams, mitigating, said: “He is deeply ashamed of himself. He says he is shocked and surprised by how he how had spent so much money.”

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Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Bateman to three years and four months for the protracted period of his offending.

He said: “The victim in this case is your mother. This was not an occasional fraud; this took place from November 2016 until August 2022.

“Your mother was a vulnerable woman; your father had died and you moved in with her and she trusted you manage your financial affairs.

“She had no idea about the state of her finances.”