An Offaly man who befriended an 89-year-old woman and took €1,230 from her bank account has been given a suspended sentence.
Dwayne Stapleton, 28, from St Mary's Terrace, Daingean, had pleaded guilty last April to using the woman's bank card to withdraw the money from ATMs in Edenderry and Tullamore.
Amounts between €110 and €350 were withdrawn on different dates between 22 July and 29 August last year.
His solicitor Patrick Martin told the sentencing hearing at Tullamore District Court that the probation report was very positive.
Judge Catherine Staines said Stapleton had done very well since his previous appearance in court and noted he had paid back the €1,230
In April, the court was told the woman was living in a nursing home at the time and the defendant carried out odd jobs for her, including the purchase of cat food and other items.
Sgt O'Sullivan said Stapleton was given the woman's card and PIN number and made five unauthorised withdrawals from her account.
While Stapleton had no previous convictions for theft, he had previously been convicted of drugs and public order offences.
Mr Martin said his client was very embarrassed by what he had done and he accepted it had been a breach of trust.
The accused attributed what he had done to a drugs problem, for which he had attended counselling.
Judge Staines said it was a very nasty offence to take advantage of an elderly lady but she noted Stapleton's early plea of guilty and his letter of apology to the victim.
She said he had accepted in the letter that he had no right to do what he had done and he was full of shame and regret.
