A bus driver stole his grieving mother’s life savings as she mourned the death of her husband.

Widow Kathleen King had turned to her son James, 36, for help after contracting Covid, but the devious drug addict stole £30,000 from her account as she slept.

The money was part of the £65,000 legacy Mrs King received following the death of her husband after the pair had “scrimped and saved” during their marriage.

Prosecutor Ellie Sheahan told Maidstone Crown Court Mrs King discovered the money had gone when her bank revealed she was in debt.

She added: “King had been living elsewhere at the time of her husband’s death but then stayed with him to help her get items and she would withdraw money to give to him.”

Ms Sheahan explained how Mrs King contracted Covid in June 2020 and In July the following year she received a text message from her bank stating that she had been unable to pay all of her bills for the month.

The prosecutor added: “It was at this time she checked her bank statements which showed she was £2500 overdrawn.

‘This was just appalling to take your mother’s life savings while she slept...’

“The victim immediately suspected James of having done this because he had access to her bank cards while he was helping at her house.”

There were 313 unauthorised debit card transactions on the account with a loss of £27,030.17. The money has been reimbursed to her by the bank.

Mrs King revealed how discovering her son had stolen the money was “devastating”, for her.

James King, of Alex Hughes Close, Snodland, was jailed for 45 months after admitting fraud, and possessing Class A drugs in a separate incident in 2021.

Judge Robert Lazarus told him his actions had a considerable impact on his mother who had now asked for a restraining order prohibiting the fraudster from contacting her for five years.

He said she had taken him in after the drug addict, convicted robber and kidnapper had fallen out with his father.

“This was just appalling to take your mother’s life savings while she slept. It has had a considerable impact on her,” the judge added.