A 60-year-old man from Mold who stole hundreds of pounds from his vulnerable sister has been ordered to pay it all back.
Last October John Pritchard received a suspended prison sentence for stealing £3,400 from his sister.
Yesterday he was back at Mold Crown Court for a financial hearing under The Proceeds of Crime Act.
Judge Merfyn Hughes, QC, made an agreed order that his criminal benefit was £3,400 and he was given six months to pay the compensation
in full, or serve three months imprisonment.
Pritchard was also ordered to pay £1,300 prosecution costs.
His barrister John Hedgecoe said the order would be met from the defendant’s equity in his home, which was now on the market.
At the previous hearing, Pritchard was told he had committed a mean and despicable offence.
He had been given her credit card and PIN number to withdraw money for her when she could not get out.
But he used it help himself when he was short of money.
He was originally charged with stealing £6,000.
Pritchard admitted stealing £3,400 from his sister, Susan Pritchard, which was accepted by the prosecution.
He received a 36-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and was sent on a workbook programme run by the probation service.
Judge Niclas Parry imposed a five month tagged curfew.
“Your sister suffers from a mild learning difficulty but lives independently. She does her best to fend for herself and be independent.”
The judge added: “She turned to you, her brother, when she could not get out because the weather was bad and also when she was in hospital.
“You took advantage of her. Over a period of eight months you stole from her.”
Pritchard was said to be extremely ashamed and very remorseful.