Harwich man jailed for exploiting grandmother's pension and drug abuse

HARWICH MAN JAILED FOR EXPLOITING GRANDMOTHER'S PENSION AND DRUG ABUSE

A 26-year-old man from Harwich, John Thomson, was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for using his grandmother's pension to buy drugs.

Thomson took control of his grandmother Marion Dean's benefits after his grandfather's death, transferring thousands of pounds from December 2021 to September 2023 into his and his partner's accounts.

The court heard that Mrs.

Dean, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in her 80s, was left with little or no food and had to beg neighbors for basic necessities.

Thomson allowed her flat to become extremely untidy, with dog urine and faeces from his partner’s pet scattered around.

His mitigation claimed he was a caring grandson who sought advice on everyday tasks before his drug addiction took over.

The prosecution alleged that Thomson’s partner also benefited from the pensions transferred into their accounts.

Thomson initially denied coercive behavior, but later admitted to the charges of perverting the course of justice.

The judge criticized him for his dishonesty and taking advantage of his grandmother, warning that he should be ashamed of himself.

In addition to his prison sentence, Thomson faced charges related to speeding, including a video of him driving at 100mph on the M11 while smiling and pumping his fist, which he posted on TikTok.

He initially lied about who was driving to evade fines for previous speeding tickets but later admitted to the court.

He was banned from driving for 12 months and 56 days for the traffic offenses.