Convicted Paedophile stole £72,000 from his elderly mother in care home

A convicted paedophile has been jailed after he stole more than £70,000 from his elderly mother through her bank account.

Daniel Bateman, who had previously been jailed after being caught by an undercover officer over communicating with what he believed was a young girl, shamelessly syphoned the money.

His mother, who was in a home, was not responsible for managing her own finances, only discovered when she was no longer able to pay for her care.

Tabitha Buck, prosecuting, said his repeated theft had left his mother penniless and feeling ‘utterly betrayed’ by her son.

She told the judge that Bateman had started using his mother’s bank card before transferring cash into his own bank account after cancelling her paper statements and setting up online banking.

“It came to light when she could no longer afford her care home fees of £500 a month and her account was repeatedly overdrawn,” she said.

The court heard how the defendant’s mother received the cash following the death of her husband.

In a victim impact statement, she said: “I feel totally betrayed by Daniel, he has left me feeling anxious and upset.

“He has taken all of my money and left me feeling vulnerable.”

Bateman, of Eldon Street, Darlington, who appeared in court via a video link from prison, had pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation between November 2016 and August 2021 when he stole a total of £72,228.

Emma Williams, mitigating, said: “He is deeply ashamed of himself. He says he is shocked and surprised by how he how had spent so much money.”

Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced Bateman to three years and four months for the protracted period of his offending.

He said: “The victim in this case is your mother. This was not an occasional fraud; this took place from November 2016 until August 2022.

“Your mother was a vulnerable woman; your father had died and you moved in with her and she trusted you manage your financial affairs.

“She had no idea about the state of her finances.”