A PENNILESS man stole his sick mother's benefits so he could go motor racing, a court heard yesterday.

Harrogate magistrates court was told that Alastair Packham wanted to go to the British Grand Prix, at Silverstone, but could not afford the trip as he had been out of work for six months and had been told by friends he could not claim benefits.

Packham's mother, who had lung cancer, asked him to collect her benefits on two occasions.

The court heard that although he handed over the money to his mother Elizabeth, who he helped care for, he then offered to pay it into the bank for her. But the cash never reached her account.

Packham, of Hampsthwaite Road, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to two offences of theft involving a total of £780 he was ordered to do 40 hours of unpaid community work and pay costs of £115.

Compensation of £680 was also ordered - he had already repaid £100.

Mitigating Helen Camidge told the court that the action was out of character and Packham and his mother were reconciled after the thefts and he now saw her daily.

Passing sentence, Hugh Simpson told Packham that theft in any form was serious but his offences had been aggravated by a breach of trust and the fact that he chose a vulnerable victim