A DRUG addict who stole £10,934 in less than a month from an elderly man with Alzheimer’s disease has been jailed.

Bonner Hampton, of no fixed abode, made 23 separate transactions from his victim’s bank account to feed his drug and gambling habits, a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court heard yesterday.

Prosecutors said he “targeted” the man, who is the father of his then-girlfriend, and made repeated visits to his address to take his bank card before returning after withdrawing cash from a series of ATMs.

Sadie Rizzo, prosecuting, said jobless Hampton’s partner had become suspicious of how he was funding his addictions, and made enquiries with Natwest about her father’s account.

“It was quickly established that several transactions – 23 in total – taking money from the account had been made between July 28 and 20 August 2014,” Ms Rizzo said.

Upon his arrest, 30-year-old Hampton admitted he had stolen the funds immediately, she said.

“He visited [the victim], taking his wallet and card and withdrawing cash sums,” she said, adding that Hampton would have known that the victim’s cash card and PIN number were stored together because of his illness.

The amount has since been refunded to the account in full by Natwest.

The defendant’s former partner had written a victim impact statement which was read aloud to the court by Ms Rizzo.

In it, she said she and her family had been left “devastated” by his actions and that she felt “responsible” for trusting him.

“Bonner Hampton left me broken,” she said.

“It has been a massive emotional rollercoaster which I would not wish to endure again.”

Nicholas Robinson, mitigating for Hampton, said the defendant was “bedevilled” by his dependence on crack cocaine and heroin at the time the offence was committed.

“He was not of sound mind – he was physically, mentally and emotionally in turmoil and he couldn’t think beyond [getting a] fix.”

But Mr Recorder Michael Selfe said: “I take the view that there is no alternative in this case but an immediate sentence of imprisonment.”

Hampton, who admitted fraud by false representation, was jailed for two years.

'It is totally unacceptable'

Gavin Terry, Alzheimer’s Society policy manager, said: “It is totally unacceptable that people with dementia are being targeted by unscrupulous predators.

“People with dementia can be an easy target to cold callers or financial abuse: they may not have the capacity to understand what they are being asked or forced to do, and may not remember what has happened.

“To prevent this exploitation carers and families who are supporting them must understand the risk factors that make such abuse more likely, and be able to spot the signs that it may be happening.

“If you are worried about someone with dementia then get in touch with Alzheimer's Society National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 – our trained helpline advisors can provide information, support, guidance and signposting to other appropriate organisations.”