A PENSIONER stole more than £8,000 from a friend being treated in a care home for Parkinson’s Disease and dementia.

Michael Harris took the money from Simon Panter, who he had lived with for 13 years, by using a cash card he had been given to deal with Mr Panter’s finances while he received care.

Bolton Crown Court was told that Harris, of Church Street, Farnworth, after initially having 69-year-old Mr Panter’s consent, ultimately used his money out of “greed”.

The offences were carried out between December 22, 2010 and June 18, 2012, with Harris stealing a total of £8,130.

Mr Panter is receiving treatment for Parkinson’s Disease and a form of dementia, the court was told.

He has been in a care home for the last three-and-a-half years Harris, aged 66, pleaded guilty to theft in breach of trust at Bolton Crown Court today.

The case was listed for trial on September 16, but Elizabeth Dudley-Jones asked Judge Elliot Knopf to give an indication of what sentence he might pass were Harris to plead guilty.

Judge Knopf said Harris will not receive an immediate prison sentence and can expect to receive a suspended term.

Harris then opted to plead guilty and he is due to be sentenced on October 3.

Judge Knopf said: “At the point that Mr Panter’s health deteriorated, Mr Harris was taking on more and more responsibilities so there was a pooling of resources.

“Any plea you enter is on the premise that, whatever may have been the original position, it developed into greed and Mr Harris took money to which he was not entitled.”

Miss Dudley-Jones had told the court that Harris continued to use Mr Panter’s money even after his care was being paid for by the state.

She said: “We have to concede a breach of a high degree of trust but this is not the sort of case where there has been a deliberate targeting of a vulnerable victim by an offender.”