A MAN given permission to use his mother’s bank debit card for money to buy cigarettes, went on to use it a further 65 times in little more than two months, a court heard.

Anthony Francis Walduck was given his 82-year-old mother’s personal identification number (Pin) with the card, supposedly to withdraw £10, on August 29 last year.

But, Durham Crown Court was told that also used it twice more that day, withdrawing £50 and £40.

Conor Quinn, prosecuting, said Walduck went on to use it a further 63 times, up to five times a day, for amounts totalling £1,311 to which he was not entitled.

Mr Quinn said due to his unauthorised withdrawals, the account, usually between £1,400 and £1,900 in the black, went into arrears by £194.44, by November 11.

“That led to her bank contacting her, which brought matters to light.”

Mr Quinn said Walduck was arrested and claimed he had permission to use the card, although he accepted taking, “the odd extra, ‘sly’ £20”.

But he stated that he meant to pay it back, although he conceded that his activities amounted to, “borrowing without permission.”

Mr Quinn told the court: “It’s accepted he had permission to withdraw £10, to be repaid, but he over-stepped the remit, withdrawing more than £1,000 additionally, which he had no means, at the time, to repay.”

He added that the aggravating feature of the case was the breach of trust from his own mother, now aged 83.

Walduck told police most of the money taken was to meet day-to-day living expenditure, but some was to pay off a drug debt.

The 46-year-old defendant, of Bourne Street, Easington Colliery, admitted fraud by false representation.

Mr Quinn said Walduck has 18 previous convictions for 32 offences.

Lewis Kerr, mitigating, told the court: “He’s been honest enough to admit some of the money taken was to pay off a drug debt.”

The court heard Walduck is taking steps to overcome an addiction to heroin, which he has not taken since February.

Mr Kerr said it was not fraudulent from the start, but added that his client accepted he was taking money “over and above” what was permitted.

Having been told Walduck intends to repay the amount taken, Recorder Ian Atherton imposed nine months’ community supervision, with a £1,311 compensation order, to be repaid at the rate of £100 per month, plus £60 statutory surcharge.