A MAN milked his sick grandmother’s accounts and put his employer’s business in jeopardy to help fund his addiction to chat lines, a court heard.

Anthony Brumwell, who has “form”, having previously defrauded members of his own family, spent £15,000 of his grandmother’s savings, extended her overdraft and left her at risk of eviction due to rent arrears which accrued through his activities.

Durham Crown Court heard her life insurance was also cancelled as her accounts dried up, causing his 74-year-old grandmother, “significant worry and confusion”.

Ian Mullarkey, prosecuting, said it came to light when a £5,000 loan application was posted to Brumwell’s father, despite carrying the defendant’s phone number.

Mr Mullarkey said when other family members checked his grandmother’s finances and matters began to untangle, her reaction was: “He’s cleaned me out again.”

When those matters were being investigated and Brumwell was on bail for theft and fraud, he turned his attentions to employer Start Energy, for whom he was account manager.

He set up a bogus £10,400 “deal” through the Peterlee-based business for an electricity meter for another company, but gave his own bank details on invoices for payments.

It caused his employer major difficulties as the other company cancelled a large contract, resulting in the loss of the jobs of four of Brumwell’s colleagues in a bid to keep Start Energy afloat.

Mr Mullarkey said when suspicion fell on Brumwell he said he spent the stolen money repaying his debts, but it was never paid to his creditors and was thought to have been used to meet rent payments and other bills.

The court heard his financial difficulties began when he started using premium rate chat lines, as a teenager, taking out payday loans to try to meet his debts along with the cost of everyday living.

Shaun Dryden, mitigating, said Brumwell was spending up to £1,000 a month on the chat lines.

“This is on top of bills, rent, etc., and there is a point where he could not fund what he was spending.”

Brumwell, 31, of East Street, Blackhall Colliery, admitted charges of fraud against his grandmother and employer, plus attempted theft.

Jailing him for three years and two months, Judge Simon Hickey told Brumwell: “Your actions are said to have broken your grandmother’s heart.

“The tragedy is that that generous lady would have given you the money if you asked.”

Judge Hickey added that, given the defendant’s circumstances, compensation was “unrealistic”.