Stepson stole cash from his ill stepmother

Joseph Diviney used her card and pin number to pocket £1,545 from her account.

His step-mother realised there was a problem when she saw money had been spent using her card at a pub she had never been to.

Diviney, 29, of Buchanan Street, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft.

He also admitted taking a car belonging to an 84-year-old man from the resort’s British Legion car park and driving the car without insurance.

He was sentenced to eight weeks prison suspended for 12 months with up to 20 days rehabilitation to be supervised by the probation service, banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £650 compensation to his stepmother by Blackpool magistrates.

Jim Mowbray, prosecuting, said Diviney’s stepmother, who had been in a relationship with the defendant’s father for 22 years, said she had a good relationship with Diviney and had brought him up as her own.

Last year she had trouble with her legs and she allowed Diviney to use her bank card to get cash for her. She became suspicious when she saw a transaction using her card has been made at the resort’s Number 3 pub, which she had never been to.

Inquiries revealed Diviney had made 18 unauthorised transactions amounting to £1,545 over four months from August to November last year.

When interviewed Diviney said he had a gambling and cocaine addiction. He had a previous conviction for theft from an employer.