A MAN stole his elderly father's bank card and went on a four-day spending spree, a court heard.

Michael Strong, 40, pleaded guilty at Harrogate Magistrates' Court yesterday to theft and three counts of obtaining property by deception. He asked for seven other deception charges to be taken into account.

Simon Ostler, prosecuting, said Strong, who was living at his parents' home in Franklin Road, Harrogate, took a debit card belonging to his father, Maitland Strong, on May 10.

Over the next four days, he used the card to finance a £1,223 spending spree, buying food, drink, mobile phones, hi-fi equipment, aftershave and perfume.

Clive Farndon, mitigating, said it had been nine years since Strong's last court appearance for dishonesty, but given the nature and number of his offences, he accepted a probation report would be needed before he was sentenced.

Court chairwoman Janet Frankland granted Strong conditional bail until July 15.