A former soldier has admitted stealing more than £28,000 from his elderly mother, who suffers from dementia, to finance his Lego obsession. Martyn Walker, 55, appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court on Monday for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of theft.
The court heard that Walker took a total of £28,070.20 from two bank accounts belonging to his 83-year-old mother, Christine Hoggett, between January 2023 and July 2024. The money was meant to cover her care home fees in Bury St Edmunds, but Walker spent a significant portion on Lego, as well as petrol and bills.
Prosecutor Samantha Lowther said Walker initially told the care home he was struggling to make payments, before later admitting he had spent his mother's money. Judge David Pugh described the offence as 'pretty mean' and noted a 'breach of a high degree of trust' against a vulnerable woman.
Walker, who arrived at court using a walking stick and mobility scooter, told the court he had 'made a mistake' and would miss his mother and wife if jailed. He received an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with 180 hours of unpaid work and up to 15 days of rehabilitation activity.
