Thief makes off with care home manager's handbag after while visiting gran

A thief made ran off with a care home manager's bag while he was visiting his grandmother, before going on an illicit shopping spree with the woman's bank cards.

Daniel Whitelam, 40, had recently been in custody on remand, after admitting burglary and two offences of fraud, before his shock theft on July 20. A court heard how Whitelam was visiting his grandma at Hull care home but, as he left, he went into a staff room and took a black handbag belonging to a senior manager. The serial criminal, from Hull, stuffed the bag into a carrier bag and left the care home at 11am.

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The brazen thief started using the manager's bank cards just seven minutes later when he spent £44.98 at a local Premier Store. Three minutes later he moved onto a petrol station and splashed £80.78 on items, including vodka and scratch cards, according to HullLive.

The manager noticed her handbag was missing as soon as she walked into the staff room and quickly turned to the CCTV footage. The care home worker spoke to Whitelams grandmother who said: "I can't believe he has stolen your bag."

Whitelam had earlier asked his grandmother for money but she did not give him any. The thief was arrested on July 26 and had convictions for 26 previous offences, including theft.

The criminal had been given a "golden opportunity" only a few weeks before his brazen crime by being spared prison at Hull Crown Court for a burglary.

Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that, when Whitelam was released from prison after being given the suspended sentence, it was at night and he was not able to get any of his prescriptions. Shipley said: "He slept rough for the weekend.

"He went back to old habits. He feels so guilty for his actions. It was more opportunist than planned. He recognises the impact that it will have had on his grandmother. He is deeply ashamed of himself."

Judge John Thackray KC said that, despite Whitelam's record, he had been given a "golden opportunity" on June 27 by being given a suspended sentence. The judge said: "I made it very clear what would happen if you committed any further offences within the two-year period."

In less than a month, Whitelam was stealing from a member of staff who was there at the care home to help his grandmother. Thackray said: "It must have been upsetting for your grandmother."

The 16-month suspended sentence was activated in full, with a consecutive eight months for the latest offences, making a total of two years.

The judge said: "Your risk cannot be managed in the community and you cannot be rehabilitated. You have proved that. Only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence."

Connor Stuart, mitigating, told the earlier hearing that Whitelam had shown genuine remorse for his actions and he had offered to make reparations to the company that owned the house. Stuart said: "He has insight into his offending."