Ely man stole more than �150,000 from his Mum

A 59-year-old man from Ely has admitted stealing �154,000 from his elderly mother over a five year period.

Denis Smith, of Clayway, appeared before city magistrates on Thursday; it is alleged he stole the cash from Irene Smith between March 2005 and May of last year.

Smith is actually charged with stealing �164,500 from his mother, but when asked to enter a plea at Ely courthouse, he admitted only stealing the lesser amount.

“The charge arises from monies taken by Smith from a particular account,” his solicitor Michael Judkins told the court. “We have gone through entries meticulously.”

He said some of the money taken had been utilised for the benefit of Mrs Smith.

“He wants to recognise the seriousness of what he has done, but will not accept the theft of the full amount of the charge,” explained Mr Judkins.

The magistrates committed Smith for sentence before a judge at Cambridge Crown Court, on a date to be fixed. The Crown Prosecution Service will be asking the Crown Court to impose a confiscation order on the money, under the Proceeds of Crime Act legislation.