A Powys wallpaper factory worker who stole £790 from his girlfriend's elderly grandmother has been ordered to pay it back.

Francis Barr, of Pine Court, Newtown, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by finding, and one other charge of fraud by false representation during a hearing at Welshpool Magistrates Court on October 5.

The court was told how 22-year-old Barr stole £790 from the account of the victim, the victim, after gaining possession of her bank card.

Prosecuting Ms Helen Tench told the court that the victim, who suffers with Multiple Sclerosis and dementia, relied on family members to make withdrawals from her account on a weekly basis.

She said Barr had taken possession of the card while it had been left unattended at the victim's property, and used it to make withdrawals on three separate days in December; the 18th, 19th and 20th.

Barr maintained his innocence until the day of his trial, changing his plea to guilty having initially denied the charge.

He said he had been given the card to make a withdrawal on the victim's behalf, and claimed he had done so many times previously.

A victim impact statement read out by the victim's daughter contradicted this, and said he had been authorised on just one previous occasion to make a withdrawal, which was when he had been given the PIN number for the card.

The statement added that the family had felt betrayed by someone whom they thought they could trust, the defendant having been in a relationship with the victim's granddaughter for the past five years.

Defending, Mr Robert Hanratty said the incident had been an "aberration" in the relationship, and said his client, who works at a wallpaper factory, was dismayed that his reputation as an "honest young man" had been tarnished.

He said his client had previously made withdrawals with consent on "dozens and dozens" of previous occasions.

"He is a naive young man who has himself down," he added.

A probation report added that Barr later accepted he had been in a "bad head space" and that he felt his "life was going downhill fast" as the result of an escalating drug habit.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order, to include 120 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation days.

He was also ordered to repay the victim via a compensation amount of £790, and ordered to pay costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £95.

"This is a very serious case and there was a major breach of trust, which we find disturbing," magistrates told Barr.