Man who stole £52k from pensioner is spared jail

The grandson of a man who had more than £50,000 of savings stolen from him says the theft left a once "proud" grandfather "anxious" and "embarrassed".

Peter Bond, 75, from Hunters Way in Stroud, Gloucestershire, was found guilty of fraud by abuse of position after taking money from Brian Woollett's account between April 2016 and December 2020.

Bond was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years, at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday.

In a victim impact statement, Woollett's grandson said the loss of financial security had caused his grandfather, who died in 2023 aged 89, "ongoing emotional pain" and had "deprived him of the peace and security he had worked so hard for".

"My grandfather spent the end of his life in distress and uncertainty, with reduced control of his care pathway due to the crime, this has caused deep and enduring grief," he added.

The court was told how Bond had been in a relationship with Woollett's daughter at the time.

In April 2016, Woollett, who was living in a private care home in Cirencester, gave Bond access to his current account, cheque book, debit card and internet banking, after agreeing to allow Bond to take charge of his finances.

However concerns were raised by Woollett's grandson in December 2020 after Woollett asked him to sell his car to pay for a funeral insurance policy.

After obtaining his grandfather's bank statements, he discovered that Bond had withdrawn and spent more than £30,000.

When confronted, Bond claimed Woollett had agreed he could use the money as though it were his own.

Bond was then asked to move out by his partner, and he was reported to Gloucestershire Constabulary.

An investigation by the Economic Crime Team later revealed Bond had gained £52,391.27 by transferring money from the account, spending it on a personal number plate and a trip to the Silverstone Grand Prix.

A police spokesperson said due to his age and declining health , Woollett had entrusted bond to "safeguard his money" and ensure his bills were paid.

"Bond committed a despicable crime against a vulnerable man who trusted him," they said.

While Woollett did not live to see his "abuser convicted", the result had "brought justice to his family" who were "distraught" by what happened, the spokesperson added.

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