A son broke into his elderly mum's home in Welshpool and stole her handbag and bank card before using it to withdraw hundreds of pounds.

Thomas Johnson, 53, of New Park Road, Shrewsbury, was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years after admitting a string of theft offences on December 30, 2020.

His Honour Judge Niclas Parry told Johnson: "It’s your mum for goodness’ sake. You’ve stolen from her before but she didn’t report you to the police because she loves you but you’ve done it again.

"Take this chance, go and say sorry to your mum and buy her a special present. And if you are, don’t use her card."

Mold Crown Court heard that Johnson's 74-year-old mum Dorothy Harrison received a phone call from her bank who were suspicious that £400 had been withdrawn from a bank in Welshpool, and various items had been bought in shops in Shrewsbury.

Paulinus Barnes, prosecuting, told the court: "She knew she hadn’t because she wasn’t out that morning and hadn’t used the card or given anyone permission to use it. She went to look for her handbag where she kept her bank card and her handbag and card was gone.

"She’d been out the previous afternoon and realised she may have left a door open. The only person who has used the card and was given the PIN code was her son Lesley Harrison – who now goes as Thomas Johnson."

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The court heard that CCTV of Welshpool town centre around the time the money was withdrawn showed a lone male identified by police as Johnson walking from direction of his Mrs Harrison's flat crossing towards the HSBC bank.

Police later found a beanie hat and mittens bought from Millet's with the stolen bank card at his home. CCTV footage also showed Johnson attempting to use the card twice at Tesco.

Mr Barnes told the court that Johnson, who has 25 theft offences to his name, pleaded guilty to taking £400 from an HSBC ATM in Welshpool as well as a further £10 and £90 cash from Lloyd's Bank; in addition to using Ms Harrison's card to buy £36.50 worth of goods from Millet's, £38 of goods at Claremont News and £21.05 at Tesco – all in Shrewsbury.

Gemma Gordon, mitigating, said that despite Johnson only changing his plea to guilty only a week before the start of his trial, he has been out of trouble for some time and last offended in 2004.

Addressing Johnson during a sentencing hearing on Friday, December 16, His Honour Judge Niclas Parry said: "It’s a despicable offence and I’m pleased to see that you accept it’s very wrong and you accept full blame.

"I take the view the burglary which is the most serious matter but then its aggravated with so many convictions for dishonesty and you went out to use the card several times.

"You’ve saved a trial in what could have been a messy matter.

"You haven’t been in trouble for nearly 20 years despite your record. I bear in mind it’s a good report.

"I can consider suspending the custodial sentence and give you a chance and I’m going to give you that chance. It will be two years imprisonment suspended for two years. There are no separate penalties."