A judge has blasted a man who stole almost £20,000 from his partner’s mother in a cruel theft of her life’s savings.

Jake Ferguson used the ruse of hoovering his victim’s bedroom but instead rifled through a locked box stashed under her bed and stole £18,400 and a number of sentimental items.

His theft only came to light when one of the victim’s sons noticed £100 had gone missing from his bedroom and his mother decided to check her money hadn’t been touched.

Kate Barnes, prosecuting, said the money had been saved up to use as a deposit for a house following the death of the victim’s husband.

She said: “She thought her sons were the only ones aware of the cash tin and where the key was to unlock it. Both sons denied being responsible for taking the money or borrowing it.

“Suspicion fell on Ferguson as he had visited her recently and he had unusually offered to hoover and he also used the shower which caused him to go into her bedroom.”

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Miss Barnes said the police were called and the defendant’s fingerprint was recovered from the metal tin.

In a victim impact statement, the woman said the theft had resulted in her not being able to get a mortgage and left her feeling as though her trust had been betrayed.

Ferguson, of Bristow Street, Middlesbrough, was found guilty of two charges of theft following a three-day trial.

The 30-year-old’s sentence had been deferred to enable the defendant to save up the money and repay his victims.

Paul Newcombe, in mitigation, said his client had suffered health problems and had been unable to save up the money or receive help from any of his family.

Judge Howard Crowson branded Ferguson a ‘dishonest man’ as he locked him up for 18 months.

He said: “I’m afraid I don’t believe anything you say. It seems to me that you are a dishonest man and you are happy to try and lie your way out of this.

“You were happy to steal the money from a woman who was in effect your mother-in-law.

“She lost not just the money but things of great sentimental value to her.”

The judge added: “You haven’t paid a single penny and I am afraid that shows your true character – having raised their hopes, you have destroyed them again.”

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