Son Stole Dying Father's Funeral Money, Court Hears

A man who stole the money his terminally ill father had been saving for his funeral, has been jailed.

Edward William Walter Hutchinson was given 29 months in prison for stealing a bank card, taking £1,500 from his father's account, and assaulting his sister and damaging her television.

Burnley Crown Court heard that Hutchinson's father, Desmond, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had started saving money to cover his funeral costs.

Last December, Desmond became sick and dizzy at his home. Edward Hutchinson, 25, rang an ambulance, and his father gave him the bank card to look after. Desmond Hutchinson passed away in February this year.

Judge Sara Dodd said:

"While your father was attending hospital last December, he gave you items to look after, in particular his card which had £1,500 in it. He told you to put it in the safe; he told you it was for his funeral.

"You took from him his love and trust. This theft breached a high degree of trust. "You have previous convictions of dishonestly. These are aggravating features."

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