Despicable thief Michael Daley left a pensioner feeling “violated” after sneaking into her home and stealing from her in a disgraceful abuse of trust.
Daley took advantage of the fact he had family members living at the same assisted living complex as the victim.
A court heard he let himself into the flat in Bedlington, Northumberland, and stole £200 from her handbag to pay off drug debts.
The victim, who lives with her husband, was left feeling vulnerable and insecure and has since installed a security camera for peace of mind.
Now Daley, 22, who admitted burglary, has been given a suspended prison sentence at Newcastle Crown Court.
Recorder Jonathan Sandiford told him: “This was a sneak-in burglary at a home that, as you well knew, was assisted living for older people, designed to allow them to live independently as far as possible and to give them a degree of security.
“You had an aunt and grandparents living in the same court but not in the same block and you were well known to the victims and other residents - that’s why your presence would not have caused any alarm or concern.
“You abused that trust in the worst way possible. You took advantage of your position and the trust placed in you to commit this burglary.
“This was, in my judgement, a despicable offence committed on people who were known to you.”
The court heard the female victim was in the habit of visiting the communal conservatory in the complex and as the block had a secure front door, she didn’t feel it necessary to lock the internal door to her flat.
On February 12 last year, she saw Daley pacing up and down the hall between the main entrance and her flat in the afternoon.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch said: “She thought at the time it was strange but given he was a regular visitor, she thought no further about it.
“At about 4pm she returned to her flat, took her purse from her handbag, hanging on a hook on the back of a cupboard door in the hallway. She intended to get money out for her husband to go shopping.
“She found the purse in place but £200 that she had was missing.
“She initially started to doubt herself then realised she had been saving the money and knew it should be there and was shocked someone had taken it.
“Her mind turned to the defendant’s unusual behaviour that afternoon and she decided to challenge him about what had gone on.”
The court heard it was a week later when she finally encountered Daley again and put him on the spot by claiming to have footage of him in her home.
Mr Bunch said: “As he walked towards her she challenged him, saying they have a camera in the flat and knew he was responsible for stealing the money.
“He responded by saying, ‘I’m sorry, I was desperate, my dad is going to throw me out’.”
Daley promised to repay the money and the woman initially decided to give him a chance but he failed to do so.
She spoke to his grandparents then reported it to the police.
The woman said in a victim impact statement: “This has really upset me and my husband.
“We feel vulnerable and targeted and have since put a camera in our home because we feel insecure.
“This will change me. We feel violated.”
Daley’s grandparents offered to repay the stolen money and after initially declining to take it from them, it was eventually accepted, the court heard.
Mr Bunch said: “When the defendant was arrested he said, ‘My grandad has paid it back’.
“He went on to say further in interview he was out of his head because of upset over the break up of his relationship and he had been using alcohol and diazepam and was not thinking straight.
“As a consequence he said he went initially to the location to see his aunt then went to visit [the victim’s husband] because he had a good relationship with him.
“He said he had knocked on the door to see if they were in, got no answer and simply walked in and thought they would be in the living room.
“He said he used the money to pay back money to people who had been threatening him over a drugs debt.”
Daley, of Rosedale, Bedlington, pleaded guilty to burglary and was given 12 months suspended for 12 months with a five-year restraining order.
Penny Hall, mitigating, said: “He has never committed an offence of this type before and he shows great remorse.
“He can’t believe he did this to the residents.
“It has affected his grandparents as well.
“He has now paid his grandparents back and did so almost immediately afterwards.
“When he was confronted he immediately accepted responsibility.
“He seems to have tried to make a fresh start and sort himself out.”