A SON stole his elderly mother’s money, spending it on luxury goods as her care home fees went unpaid, a court heard.

Simon Shonn was given a suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to fraud at Bolton Crown Court Adam Lodge, prosecuting, told how Shonn gained control of his mother Irene Shonn’s assets in January, 2011, shortly before she moved into the Heathlands Residential Care Home in Prestwich.

She suffered from Alzheimers Disease and was unable to care for herself any longer at her flat in Lowther Close, Prestwich.

The care home fees were £665 a week, which Shonn was supposed to pay out of his mother’s money, but after six months they remained unpaid and the private care home was considering evicting her.

“Thankfully, because of her condition, she was never aware of the threat,” said Judge Peter Davies.

Shonn agreed to pay off the arrears, but by May last year they had escalated to £29,000 and Bury Council stepped in to pay them, informing the police and the Office of Public Guardian of their concerns.

Unemployed Shonn was removed from having control of his 75-year-old mother’s assets, but a police investigation found he had stolen more than £44,000, spending it on televisions, computers, CDs, home improvements, meals out and shoes.

Shonn, aged 47, of Suthers Street, Radcliffe, pleaded guilty to fraud.

Martin Callery, defending, said the married man, who has a teenage daughter, is from a devout Jewish family and was the only one of three brothers to take care of his mother, whom he still visits three times a week.

He said the family had had a “relaxed attitude” towards cash, with the son taking the view that, if she had been aware he was spending her money on himself and his family, she would not mind.

“He is thoroughly ashamed of the position he finds himself in,” added Mr Callery.

Judge Peter Davies said Shonn deserved to go to jail, but that would mean the end of Shonn’s visits to his mother. “I don’t wish to deprive her of that small illumination during the week,” said Judge Davies.

Shonn was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered to do 300 hours unpaid work.

He will also be subject to a six-month 8pm to 7am curfew and there will be a hearing on August 5 to determine whether any of the stolen money can be recovered from him.