A MAN who stole £27,500 from his elderly mother has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Timothy Brinkman was sentenced to nine months suspended for two years following a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.

He must also carry out 200 hours unpaid work.

Judge Thomas Teague QC said: “You helped yourself to money belonging to your elderly and infirm mother who lacked capacity and for most of the time was living in a care home.

“You exploited her condition in order to treat her bank account as your own.”

He accepted that in many cases Brinkman’s mother, who died in January, would have given him the money or loaned it.

He added: “Following the death of your sister you are the sole heir and will inherit the estate and was always going to be a beneficiary.”

The 56-year-old, from Powell Drive in Billinge, had pleaded guilty to five thefts between January 2009 and October 2012.

Prosecutor Harry Pepper said Brinkman took money using her bank card, often taking £250 a time.

His behaviour came to light when his mother’s care home became concerned about unpaid fees and social services called in the police.

Defence barrister David Morton said that Brinkman had begun by borrowing money with every intention of repaying it but lost his job. He was in danger of being evicted and took money for necessities not luxuries.