A THIEF has been disowned by his family after stealing his sick father’s lifesavings and leaving him with just £6.31.

Andrew Clendenning took £7,000 from the bank account of his 64-year-old father Edward in just four months.

He then tried to frame his brother Sean, claiming he had been responsible for an earlier burglary and a £5,000 payment was to stop him doing it again.

Sean Clendenning was arrested and his house was raided, with computer equipment and papers taken away, but police later realised they had got the wrong brother.

Andrew Clendenning was jailed for six months for the theft on Friday.

The money was a pay off to Mr Clendenning Snr after he was made redundant from his truck mechanic job.

He was going to use it to renovate his house.

Speaking from his Darlington home last night, Sean Clendenning, 38, said his brother had broken their father’s heart and would be written out of his will.

“Ever since my dad found out, he’s not been out of the house - he’s just not the same man.

“He used to go and see friends, but not any more. I think he is ashamed. I think it has broken his heart.”

Sean described his arrest for the theft as a “nightmare”.

He added: “We had the house raided at 11pm and I was arrested and in a cell for three hours.”

He claims his brother stole the money out of greed, adding: “He’s too lazy to look for work. I don’t think he will ever be able to pay it back.

“I think he knew he could take advantage of my dad. Even when he was in hospital he was taking money out of the account. What he has done is disgusting.

“Personally, I don’t think six months in prison was long enough.

“We are finished with him - we don’t want anything to with him anymore. You don’t get much lower than stealing from your own father.”

Sean and his father have not had contact with Andrew Clendenning since they found out he was responsible for stealing the money.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Mr Clendenning Snr left his bank cards and details with his sons after suffering two burglaries.

Andrew Clendenning, 40, withdrew amounts every week for his father's groceries and other spending, but then also helped himself to funds.

His brother, Sean, noticed the withdrawals when he saw a statement as he tried to arrange for a boiler repair at his father's home.

Judge Peter Armstrong told the defendant that trying to frame his brother was an aggravating feature to what he said was already a serious case.

Jailing him and ordering him to pay £7,000 compensation, the judge said: “When he was in hospital, you simply plundered that account and took the whole of his savings.

“For a son to do that to his father is appalling.”

Andrew Clendenning, of West Auckland Road, Darlington, admitted theft at an earlier hearing, at the same time abandoning his bid to blame his brother.

His barrister, Stephen Thornton, said: “He found himself in a desperate situation for money, and took a desperate and wrong act.”

He said his client had the offer of a job in the United States and if he was not locked up, would be able to pay back his father.

But Judge Armstrong told the unemployed construction worker: “When you are released, if you obtain work, you can pay compensation.”