A MAN who stole �148,000 from his sick father while he was meant to be looking after his affairs has been jailed for two years.

Scott Dougal and his brother Max were given power of attorney in 2005 after their father George Dougal, 64, suffered a stroke.

He needed care in a Suffolk residential home after losing the use of the left side of his body and suffering from short-term memory loss, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Mr Dougal senior’s home was sold and he also had money from two occupational pensions, said Patricia Doggett, prosecuting.

Max Dougal died in a car crash in 2008 and the theft of Mr Dougal senior’s money came to the attention of the police earlier this year when care home staff reported that his fees were not being paid and he did not have money to buy basic items.

The �25,000 owed in care home fees was covered by social care services and Mr Dougal senior told police he said he had not given his son permission to spend the money as he liked.

Miss Doggett said the defendant was currently repaying the unpaid care home fees at the rate of �200 a month.

Scott Dougal told police he had spent his father’s money and that he had “buried his head in the sand” and continued to spend after the account became overdrawn.

Dougal, 37, of Rosary Road, Norwich, admitted theft and was jailed for two years.

Stephen Spence, for Dougal, said his client had found himself in financial difficulties and had started borrowing his father’s money with the intention of paying it back. “Things spiralled and got out of hand and he continued to take money,” said Mr Spence.

He said Dougal was of previous good character and he handed in to the court a number of testimonials from people who spoke highly of him.

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