A MEAN thief fleeced his disabled 75-year-old grandmother of almost £10,000 and blew it on his £1,000-a -week cocaine addiction and booze binges.

Michael Wilson, 31, had used wheelchair-bound victim Maureen Wilson's bank card 43 times to help himself to the cash and she might never see a penny of it again.

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Mrs Wilson only found out about her grandson's betrayal when she was out shopping one day and her card was refused.

Burnley Crown Court heard how at the time, Wilson had a £150-a-day drugs habit.

The former aircraft fitter was said to have been living a 'Walter Mitty' existence, pretending he was going to work even though he had lost his job.

Wilson, who was remanded in custody a month ago for his own protection as he was suicidal, walked free from court after a judge said he took the view the defendant had had his punishment.

The defendant, of no fixed address, had earlier admitted theft of £9,537, which he took between August and October and had been committed for sentence by Pennine magistrates.

He was given eight months in prison, suspended for a year, with 240 hours unpaid work, a six month drugs programme and an 8pm to 7am curfew. He had no previous convictions.

Prosecutor Emma Kehoe said on October 12, the victim handed over her Halifax debit card for some shopping and it was declined.

She couldn't understand why as she had a considerable amount of money in her current account and thought it was very strange.

Mrs Wilson went home, transferred some money from her savings account and told her son what had happened.

The prosecutor continued: "It then became apparent to her son that possibly his son, the defendant, may have had something to do with what happened to her.

"The two of them contacted the building society and got a mini statement from Mrs Wilson's account. When they received that, it became apparent there had been a lot of transactions, totalling £9,537, which she just couldn't account for."

Miss Kehoe said the defendant had been living with his grandmother in Nelson for about 12 months.

The prosecutor continued: "He immediately accepted it was completely and utterly down to him and the family decided the police had to become involved because of the amount that had been taken."

Robert Elias, defending, said: "I have to acknowledge the sense of betrayal of a family member going behind your back and emptying your bank account."

The barrister continued: "She probably would have given him money if he had had the courage to ask."

The judge said Wilson had served the equivalent of a two month jail term and was assessed as a low risk of reoffending.

He continued: "There are many who say, to use a cliche, that the clang of the prison gates would have a real effect on somebody like you."