A MAN plundered the finances of his dementiasuffering uncle after he was taken into care.

As next of kin, David Gartland was given control of the financial interests for 75-year-old John Gartland when he was admitted to a residential care home in Bishop Auckland, having been diagnosed with dementia in 2009.

Durham Crown Court was told he effectively took over his uncle’s accounts, to handle his pension payments and Post Office account dealings.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said this included benefits paid into his account to cover living expenses and also payments to the local authority to cover his uncle’s home fees.

Mr Soppitt said between January 2009 and May this year, £27,422.73 went into the accounts in benefit and pension payments.

During that time Gartland paid £2,000 to his uncle’s funeral fund, £2,049 towards his care, £105 for his living expenses and £300 for his clothing.

But, it emerged that the other £22,968 was appropriated by Gartland, using his uncle’s debit cards.

Mr Soppitt said: “He was effectively taking money from his uncle’s accounts when he should not have, and it left his uncle £9,000 in arrears to the local authority.

“It’s not clear what attitude has been taken about that by the authority in these circumstances.”

Gartland was arrested on August 12 and accepted his guilt, claiming he had “forgotten” to pay the £400 a month care bills, as he “wasn’t good with money”.

He also stated that his partner had been suffering with ill-health at the time.

Mr Soppitt said the home confirmed that Gartland had not visited his uncle since December last year.

Gartland, 57, of Taylor Square, Bishop Auckland, admitted two charges of fraud.

Chris Baker, mitigating, said: “It involves a complex series of transactions and he could have strung this out, but he’s done the decent thing and made full admissions.

“He’s not been in the best of health himself, with heart problems going back to 1999.”

Mr Baker said Gartland has suffered other family bereavements and helps to look after his current partner, who suffers ill health.

“He never intended this to happen. It was over a long period when he was unwell and administratively incompetent. He accepts he fell into dishonesty and is genuinely sorry for what he has done.”

Jailing him for eight months, Recorder Andrew Campbell told Gartland: “It was a serious breach of the trust placed in you to manage your uncle’s affairs.”