Castleford fraudster took £13k from his grandparents leaving them with no money for food

Bradley Morrison was locked up for two years after a court heard how he preyed on the elderly couple for six months by taking advantage of their love for him.

Leeds Crown Court heard the offending came to light when a carer discovered the couple did not have enough money to pay for food when she went shopping for them as they shielded during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The couple, aged in their 80s, had to rely on charity to pay for food and bills as a result of Morrison’s offending.

Emily Jenkins, prosecuting, said Morrison began asking the couple for money in January this year.

The defendant was allowed to use the couple’s bank cards to withdraw cash on the understanding that the cards would be returned to them.

Ms Jenkins said Morrison would keep the cards for days at a time without returning them.

The offending came to light on May 23 this year when a family friend noticed that the couple were ordering less shopping then usual and struggled to afford it.

Morrison later returned the cards and it was discovered that the couple’s three accounts were almost empty.

Ms Jenkins said Morrison took a total of £13,144 from his grandparents’ account.

Morrison, of Church View, Castleford, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

Morrison has a previous conviction for fraud committed against his grandparents in 2017, for which he was made the subject of a community order.

Stephen Swan, mitigating, said Morrison carried out the offending when he was suffering from depression after the relationship with his partner broke down. The barrister said his client began to drink heavily and use cocaine.