A CHEF told police how he had gone “mad” with the bank card of an invalid pensioner to withdraw thousands of pounds from his account.

Housebound Douglas Wharton, 76, had entrusted his card and pin number to Paul Evans, with whom he lived, to take out £250 at a time.

He would then return the items and Mr Wharton would give him £60 to pay for food and rent.

Prosecutor Eleanor Fargin told Southampton Crown Court that the bank however became concerned about larger than normal expenditures and withdrawals of cash and alerted their fraud department who called in the police.

Evans accepted that over a month he had taken £4,400 without authorisation and “blown it”, adding: “I had abused his trust; I don't know what came over me.”

Evans, 54, of Leckford Close, Southampton, admitted theft but was spared an immediate prison sentence after defence barrister Audrey Archer said he was deeply ashamed and, though bankrupt, wanted to repay the pensioner.

“He is deeply embarrassed at appearing before the court. He feels he has let his family down and fears it will have a negative impact on his job. He is very unlikely to appear before a court again.”

Giving him a four-month suspended sentence with orders to carry out 60 hours unpaid work for the community and repay the cash, Recorder Stephen Climie said it had been a breach of trust from a vulnerable victim.