A father-of-two trusted with his elderly neighbour’s bank card and pin number withdrew money for himself – and then lied about the deception.

Paul Collinson’s 88-year-old victim, from Ramsgate, had asked him to go to a cashpoint for her as she wanted to pay a bill.

A court heard how after withdrawing the £200 she needed at a Spar store in the town, he then put the card back into the machine and took out a further £200.

When the “vulnerable” pensioner’s relatives realised the cash was missing they contacted police.

But when Collinson was questioned, he lied and said there must have been an error with the cashpoint he used.

Folkestone magistrates heard last week that the 29-year-old had been trusted by the elderly woman as they had been neighbours for some time.

Prosecutor Julie Farbrace said: “The victim is 88 years old and she had asked Mr Collinson to withdraw £200 to pay a bill.

“They had been neighbours for several years and he knew the pin and she trusted him.

“He withdrew the cash from the Spar and gave her the £200 – but there had been two transactions for £200, one after another.

“When he was questioned, he said it had been an error, but this was not the case as checks had been done with the Natwest bank.”

Collinson, who is unemployed, was interviewed for a second time by police and still denied the deception, but he was later charged with fraud by false representation.

The Weyburn Drive resident withdrew the cash on August 4 last year. When he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court last Thursday he pleaded guilty to the offence.

Ms Farbrace added: “The 88-year-old trusted him with the card. It was a breach of trust. She is a vulnerable victim and he abused that trust.”

Magistrates heard Collinson had no previous convictions, but he had been struggling with alcohol and drugs.

The court was told he was remorseful about the decision he made that day and that he had fallen out with some of his family members as a result.

Collinson was placed on an 18-month community order which will see him carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay his neighbour back the £200.