AN ungrateful granddaughter repaid her grandparents’ generosity by stealing their savings.

Gemma Anne Thomas intercepted mail to her grandfather to gain his banking details and cash cards, which she repeatedly used to make withdrawals.

Her dishonest activities only began to come to light when her 77-year-old grandfather received a bank letter telling him a cheque to pay for a grandson’s school trip bounced as his account was overdrawn due to numerous mystery cashpoint withdrawals.

Durham Crown Court heard the couple were forced to cash in an ISA to meet their unexpected debts.

Lynsey Armstrong, prosecuting, said the grandmother’s 70th birthday celebrations were marred when their car was unexpectedly re-possessed as hire purchase payments were outstanding.

She was wheelchair-bound and needed the car for mobility as her husband had difficulty pushing her round after heart bypass surgery.

Ms Armstrong said it was discovered no direct debit payments were made for the car repayment and so the police were informed.

The couple also learned that a court summons for a non-payment of a fine for failing to tax the vehicle had failed to reach them as Thomas intercepted the letter and issued a guilty plea by post, without her grandfather’s knowledge.

Thomas, who lived at her grandparents’ home, in Belmont, Durham, from 2005 was arrested and made admissions.

Ms Armstrong said her activities had a “profound” effect on her grandparents, who were never previously in debt.

Although they were reimbursed by the bank, they were £4,400 out of pocket for the recovery of their car.

Thomas, 25, now of Woodland View, Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, admitted theft and asked for 12 counts of fraud to be considered, for sums totalling £24,347, committed over a three-year period.

Ron Mitchell, mitigating, said it was “hardly surprising”

she had to leave their house and her grandparents want nothing more to do with her. He said Thomas used the money on electronic items and alcohol, but since her arrest has given up drinking and is still in debt herself.

Mr Mitchell added that Thomas suffered psychiatric problems, but was not considered mentally ill.

Recorder Graham Hyland told Thomas: “The most appropriate word to describe your offending is, despicable.

“It was mean, systematically raiding the bank accounts of your grandparents, who gave you a home.

“The consequences for them has been devastating and your relationship with then is at an end.

“You richly deserve to go to prison, but, in the light of what I’ve read about you, and in the hope you will benefit from a period of supervision, your sentence will be suspended.”

He imposed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, with 12 months’ probation supervision.

Due to her circumstances, he made no costs or compensation order.