A THIEF who stole cheques from a 72-year-old friend and paid them into his own account has been jailed for five months.

The victim's son today welcomed the sentence -- but said no penalty could fully reflect the impact of the offence on his dad, who no longer trusted anyone.

"It has finished him," said Keith Catterall, of Blackamoor Road, Blackburn. "He had to move into sheltered housing and he is currently in a sort of rehabilitation unit to help him get back into that environment after a spell in hospital.

"People say it was only £500 and that is right. I could give dad the £500 and he wouldn't be any worse off, but the effect on him in other ways goes much deeper."

Blackburn magistrates heard that Terrence Edward Brindle took five cheques belonging to Mr Catterall during one of his daily visits to his home.

He made them out for £100 and paid them into his own bank account. And the court was told that one day when Mr Catterall went to withdraw his pension from the bank, he was distressed to be told there were insufficient funds.

Brindle, 48, of William Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to five charges of theft on dates between December 8, 2002 and April 4, 2003.

He was sent to prison for five months and ordered to pay £200 compensation.

Mr Catterall said his dad, Cuthbert, now feels that he can't trust anybody.

"Even when he went into hospital he wouldn't tell them where his money was," he said.

"He worked all his life as a mill manager and in retirement he enjoyed a few pints and nothing much more.

"He paid his bills, always in cash, and when he didn't have enough money to pay his electricity bill he couldn't understand it."

The court heard that Mr Catterall and Brindle had met at a working men's club and had been friends for about two years.

"The defendant would pop in to see Mr Catterall on an almost daily basis to check if he had provision and that he was OK," said Neil White, prosecuting.

He said that on May 19 Mr Catterall went to the bank to withdraw his pension and was shocked to be told he had insufficient funds.

When he was interviewed by police Brindle admitted stealing five cheques and using the money to pay off debts.

"Mr Catterall trusted him and says Brindle was the only person he would trust in his home unsupervised," said Mr White.

"Brindle, in return, took advantage of his circumstances."

Clare Knight, defending, said her client was very sorry about what had happened.

"He realises how seriously these matters will be viewed by the court," she said.

She said the thefts had not been sophisticated and detection was inevitable.