Son took £53k from mother to buy mountain bikes

A son stole more than £53,000 from his elderly mother and squandered it on new mountain bikes, a court heard. Mark Hadley, aged 32, yesterday admitted stealing the cash.

He took it from his 66-year-old mother Doris after getting hold of her bank card and pin number at the family's Darlaston home. He withdrew a total of £53,410 over a two-year period,

Walsall Magistrates Court heard yesterday. Miss Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, outlined the case.

She told the court Hadley had been living with his mother when the cash was withdrawn.

Relatives grew suspicious when he accumulated several mountain bikes and other items, which he claimed to have bought over the internet.

By the time the theft was discovered the account was overdrawn by £20.

Miss Meakin said: "He resided with his mother and no other person lived at the house where he occupied a back bedroom. Mrs Hadley kept her bank card and pin number in the house."

Miss Meakin said when the defendant, formerly of Marbury Drive, Bilston, was arrested he told the police officers he had his mother's permission to take money from her account, but he later changed his story and admitted taking the card and pin without her knowledge.

Hadley, now of Wood Green Road, Wednesbury, pleaded guilty to one charge of theft between April 2008 and March 2010.

Mr Nigel Ford, defending, told the court: "A significant amount of property was recovered, some were expensive, and will no doubt be sold to recoup the money."

Hadley was given conditional bail until August 4 when the case will be heard at Wolverhampton Crown Court.