THE tragedies that led a once-respected businessman into a life of alcoholism and crime were detailed in court this week.

Homeless man Kevin Allen walked from Darlington to Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court to plead guilty to a string of offences yesterday.

He had stolen bank cards and a passport from an unlocked car in Darlington in May and on a separate occasion taken bank cards from a wallet he claimed to have found in an alleyway.

Allen, 46, tried to buy alcohol with the cards from two local shops and stole lager from Sainsbury’s on Corporation Road when the cards were declined.

The offences were carried out shortly before he was sentenced for burglary after being caught sleeping in the toilets of the Dolphin Centre, having stolen wine from the venue’s bar.

Sonny Lawson, mitigating, said the father-of-four spiralled into alcoholism following a series of tragedies.

The court heard that Allen had been brought up in children’s homes where he was subjected to “a range of abuse” by offenders now serving prison sentences.

He went on to set up his own appliance business but lost it after a car accident left him in a coma and with brain damage.

Just last year, Allen’s wife of 25 years died following a lengthy battle with cancer, after which his dependence on alcohol became increasingly problematic and his lifestyle “chaotic”.

He lived rough in Darlington, sleeping for warmth and safety in public toilets.

Mr Lawson said he had now been offered accommodation and was working with agencies to resolve his problems.

He added: “He has done everything he possibly can to address the issues that brought him before court following very tragic circumstances.”

Allen was charged with three theft related counts and five of fraud relating to the use of the bank cards. He was ordered to continue complying with an existing community order imposed over the Dolphin Centre offence and told to pay £90.40 in compensation.