A GAMBLING addict who secretly used a bank card belonging to his partner's elderly dad to persistently steal cash has been told by a judge that his behaviour was "despicable."

A court heard that James Neary used the card to make 86 withdrawals, appallingly including on the very day the victim's wife died and on 19 further occasions after her death.

Her distraught bereaved husband, 88-year-old George Sullivan, uncovered the dishonesty after checking his bank accounts and finding that £8.200 had vanished. Suspicion quickly fell on Neary, whose devastated partner threw him out.

Jailing Neary for two years Judge Brian Cummings, QC, said that his offending behaviour was "despicable" and pointed out that the last 20 transactions took place when Mr Sullivan had been at his most distressed and vulnerable.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that 50-year-old Neary has no previous convictions, but the judge said that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.

Iain Criddle, prosecuting, said that Neary had been in a two-year relationship with Barbara Blessing, who cared for her elderly parents. They initially lived in Bromborough but later moved to Bebington.

Her 85-year-old mum, Bonnie, went into hospital in August last year and she used her dad's bank card to do their shopping for them but never withdrew cash.

Unknown to her, Neary started using the card to pockets sums of cash for himself between November and February.

After Mrs Sullivan died in February her husband later discovered what had been going on and the police were notified.

Investigations revealed that all the cash withdrawals had been made from machines in the Port Sunlight area where Neary had been living with his partner.

He had taken £200 on the same day Mrs Sullivan - who like her husband had welcomed him into their family - passed away and he stole a further £2,450 before being caught out.

He was arrested and interviewed by police in October and told officers he had taken the cash to fund his gambling and cocaine habits.

Mr Criddle said that in her impact statement Ms Blessing told how she feels responsible for the defendant's dishonesty and her father told how he feels upset as he knows she is blaming herself.

Neary, now of Sandy Road, Seaforth, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

The court heard that Neary, who works for a flooring firm, is remorseful for his "out of character" behaviour.