Hucknall teenager took hundreds of pounds from sick man’s bank account

Rory Peutrilll (19) was living with Errol Hennan, and his wife and carer, Rosemary, after being thrown out of his own home on Broomhill Road, Hucknall by his father.

At first, all went well, Nottingham Magistrates’ Court was told. Peutrill ‘struck up a rapport’ with Mr Hennan, who often needed help with the most basic functions, such as going to the toilet.

“But then Mrs Hennan began to notice money going missing,” said Peter Quinn, prosecuting.

“This set alarm-bells ringing, and as she became more concerned, money started to disappear from their bank account at the Co-op.

“When she found cash in Peutrill’s room, she put two and two together and brought the police in.”

Initially, when arrested and interviewed, Peutrill denied taking the money. But CCTV evidence clearly showed him using a cashpoint at a Co-op shop on Westdale Lane, Mapperley -- just down the road from where he was staying at the Hennans’ home.

Eight times between 2nd September and 11th September last year, he withdrew £200.

Mr Hennan had told him his pin number when asking Peutrill to fetch some money for him on an earlier occasion.

In court, Peutrill admitted eight charges of committing fraud by using Mr Hennan’s bank card to withdraw a total of £1,600.

Amanda Parker (defending) said the ‘offences were committed for no good reason’ and described the escapade as ‘a period of madness in this young man’s life’.

She explained that he had fallen out with his dad in April last year over two Wonga loans that Peutrill had taken out.

The parents of his girlfriend, Chloe Wiser, took pity on him and allowed him to move in with them, also on Westdale Lane.

But when that did not work out, he was taken in next door by Mr and Mrs Hennan, who are the parents of Chloe’s mum, Kathy.

“Mrs Hennan said he seemed a polite, young man and helped out with things like gardening,” said Miss Parker.

“On occasions, he even took money out for Mr Hennan legitimately, so there was nothing sophisticated about these offences.

“He didn’t deliberately take advantage of someone who was ill. He was easily found out.

“With hindsight, he is mortified and feels terrible.

“He didn’t think it would be looked at as a breach of trust. It was naive and immature.

“A grave mistake that is unlikely to be repeated.

“The relationship with his girlfriend is now at an end, but he is back with his father.”

At one stage during the hearing, Peutrill fainted -- a symptom of a medical condition that means he suffers up to 20 blackouts per day.

After reading probation reports and character-references, the Bench sentenced Peutrill to a 12-month community order.

He must be supervised by the probation service and carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

A curfew, between 10pm and 7 am, was also imposed, and he was told to pay court costs of £85, plus a victim surcharge of £60.