Prodigal Son Returns And Raids Disabled Dad's Accounts

An ex-publishing executive, who ended up back at the family home after his career and relationship fell apart, has been jailed for raiding his disabled pensioner father's bank accounts of £66,000 and similarly taking £1,600 from his new girlfriend.

Andrew David Metcalfe Mitchell, 42, even intercepted his father's bank statements as he recovered from a stroke and hip fracture - scanned, forged and printed them - successfully covering up his year-long theft spree.

The first-time offender, of Kendra Hall Road, South Croydon pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation between October 1, 2009 and November 21, last year, namely using his 69 year-old father Martin Mitchell's bank accounts for his own purpose.

Mitchell (pictured) similarly pleaded guilty to fraud between May 21 and November 21, last year, namely falsely representing he was entitled to make debits to girlfriend Susan Lamey's bank accounts.

Croydon Crown Court heard yesterday that Mitchell, who has a seven year-old daughter, moved back in with his dad at Chestnut Court, Wallington as his "unofficial carer."

On November 20, last year his local HSBC branch contacted Mr. Mitchell snr.

"His account was now emptied and so were his other accounts with the Nationwide and Santander," said prosecutor Mr. Andrew Ramsubhag. "His entire savings of sixty-six thousand pounds had been withdrawn over the course of a year.

"Mr. Mitchell junior had been intercepting his father's bank statements, scanning them into his computer, and altering them to show he was in funds when in fact he was pilfering from them.

"He was making cash withdrawals at ATM's, using his father's cards, and it started as soon as he began living with his father.

"The defendant's girlfriend contacted police and told them she had her cards stolen by the defendant, which were then used to withdraw from her account and purchase a ticket to leave the country and flee to France."

Mitchell was persuaded to return to the UK and gave himself up at Wallington Police Station on November 21, last year.

"He told police he was in debt up to twenty-five thousand pounds, which was a long-term drugs debt to a dealer who had been in prison and then released," explained Mr. Ramsubhag. "The rest was living expenses and buying gifts for his daughter online."

Mitchell's lawyer Mr. Robert Conway told the court: "These offences were truly shameful and disgraceful and nobody knows that more than Mr. Mitchell himself. This is someone who had monetary pressures and took it upon himself to commit this fraud.

"He moved back to provide full care to his father and is somebody who has gone from a successful publishing career to being unemployed."

The court was told recreational drug debts from raves fifteen years earlier were demanded by old acquaintances, resulting in Mitchell also turning to drink.

"This is someone whose life imploded around him and was under increasingly huge financial pressures," said Mr. Conway.

"He has suffered the guilt and shame of this and knows it will hang over him for the rest of his life.

"He has seen these relationships with those closest to him, his father, sister and girlfriend, utterly destroyed.

"He attempted to take his own life. This once successful family man took an overdose and slashed his wrists in December, last year."

Recorder Mukul Chawla QC jailed Mitchell for twelve months, telling him: "You have lost your good character, but more importantly the trust of those that are closest to you and I expect that is a shame that will never leave you.

"You abused the position of trust you had taken on in relation to your father. He was reliant on you to look after him.

"Worse than that is you not only abused that position, but you compounded what you did by falsifying bank statements, which must have left your father with a further sense of betrayal."