A FORMER Westhoughton mayor has gone on trial accused of stealing thousands of pounds from his elderly father.

James Gilfillan, who was mayor of the town from 2007 to 2008, was said to have taken control of his 82-year-old father’s finances when the pensioner became increasingly infirm in 2011.

But a jury at Bolton Crown Court heard how, in addition to buying groceries and items for his father, Gilfillan siphoned off £23,500 from his account for himself over a two year period and even used Mr Gilfillan Snr’s name and personal details to obtain loans.

Roger Brown, prosecuting, said that the offending came to light when the defendant moved to Howden, Goole, in 2013 and his younger brother, David, who still lived in the Bolton area, suggested that, as he lived near to their father, he should take over control of the pensioner’s account.

“By the time he moved out of Lancashire he simply couldn’t afford anyone else to have a look at what was going on,” said Mr Brown.

Mr Gilfillan Snr’s family contacted police after David Gilfillan asked his brother for details of the finances.

“That was met with a refusal,” said Mr Brown.

James Gilfillan, aged 55, of The White Horse pub, Howden, denies theft, two counts of fraud and a charge of possessing a bank card for use in fraud.

The jury was told that Gilfillan’s father, also called James Gilfillan, died on January 24 this year, but not before he had been able to give a videotaped interview to police in 2013.

Mr Brown said that Mr Gilfillan Snr was living at Merton sheltered housing in Stanmore Drive, Deane, in July 2011 when it was agreed that James Gilfillan, the eldest of his three sons, should look after his financial affairs.

But the court heard that, instead of just using Mr Gilfillan Snr’s Lloyd’s TSB account for the elderly man’s benefit his son withdrew cash for himself and used it as location for loan deposits.

By the time Gilfillan ceased having control of it and his father had moved into St Catherine's nursing home in Horwich, it had been drained.

“By July 31 2013 this account had virtually no money in it at all – just a pound and some pennies,” said Mr Brown.

Gilfillan is also said to have used his father’s name and personal details to apply for and receive seven loans, amounting to £2,252 from payday loan company Wonga, with fees and interest on the debt paid out of the pensioner’s account.

The bank account was also said to have been used by Gilfillan to buy computer games from a website and then, in April 2013, Gilfillan is said to have used his father’s details again to obtain a £7,000 Lloyds TSB loan, withdrawing £6,500 of the cash from the account within days.

“”It is clear he [Mr Gilfillan Snr] did not agree to that money being borrowed in his name,” said Mr Brown.

The trial continues.