A Wigan father who stole more than £17,000 from his in-laws to fund his alcohol and gambling addiction has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Christopher Ward, 46, of Bridgeman Terrace in Wigan, took control of Linda and David Wilkinson's bank cards after falsely claiming they needed to switch accounts to secure a mortgage and receive compensation.
The Fraud and Its Impact
Between April 2022 and May 2023, Ward stole £7,761 from his mother-in-law's account and £9,891 from their joint account, leaving them £3,700 in arrears on unpaid bills.
Mrs Wilkinson said the fraud had left her unable to trust people and had turned her life "upside down".
Court Proceedings and Sentence
Ward's lawyer told Liverpool Crown Court that Ward had been drinking two litres of vodka a day and was now in supported accommodation, taking steps to address his addiction.
Ward was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years, ordered to complete a 12-month probation requirement, and banned from contacting his former in-laws for 10 years.
