A Belfast man who stole £4,000 from his mother’s account to pay off drug dealers has been jailed for six months.
Michael McCallan, of Devon Place in east Belfast, will spend an additional six months on licence when he is released from prison.
The court was told it was the second time McCallan stole from his mother.
The 57-year-old was charged with 13 counts of fraud by false representation and one count of driving whilst disqualified.
As he stood in the dock of Belfast Crown Court, McCallan wept throughout the plea hearing.
The court heard McCallan’s offending emerged when his sister - who has access to their mother’s bank account - noticed a large number of suspicious cash withdrawals.
The withdrawals were made over a period from September 11 to October 20, 2023 which Judge Lynch said “coincided with the defendant having re-surfaced back” into his mother’s life.
After checking the account, McCallan’s sister discovered that a total of 13 unauthorised cash withdrawals had been made for sums ranging from £40 to £500.
The total fraud amounted to £4,120.
During a police interview, McCallan admitted taking his mother’s bank card without her permission and withdrawing cash.
Judge Lynch noted that McCallan has “previous form for exactly this type of activity” and was handed a suspended sentence in April 2022 for fraud against his mother and now-deceased father.
Defence submissions made by barrister Sean Mullan indicated that McCallan’s offending was linked to his cocaine addiction and that he de-frauded his mother to pay off drug dealers.
Mr Mullan also pointed out that his client has repaid £4,000 to his mother.
The Judge also spoke of a Victim Impact Report compiled by McCallan’s 82-year old mother who said: “I honestly cannot believe he has done this to me again. I’m absolutely heart-broken that he would abuse and steal from his family in this way and I’m finding it very difficult to cope with his betrayal and deceit.”