A 'despicable' son who plundered £70,000 from his sick mother's bank accounts - leaving her penniless and with the bailiffs at her door - has been jailed for three years and seven months.

Steven Darvill systemically raided retired nurse Hazel Riley's nest egg and pension pot over five years, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mrs Riley, 79, who suffers with Alzheimers Disease was left without food and clothing and opened an empty purse to pay for meals at a day centre, prosecutor Peter Hampton said.

Darvill, 56, visited her only every three months and failed to turn up even when the fire service and an ambulance were called to an accident at her home in Allerton, Bradford.

Judge Jonathan Rose told him: "The thief who steals from a family member, the thief who steals from his mother, is disgraceful. It is a wicked breach of trust."

Mrs Riley was "labouring under the appalling effects of Alzheimers Disease" making the theft completely despicable.

Darvill, of Ashfield Road, Birstall, pleaded guilty on the day of his trial last month to stealing £69,163 from his mother, between January 20, 2009, and July 1 last year.

Mr Hampton said Mrs Riley had been comfortably off after working all her life in the health sector.

She had kept very careful financial records using a hand written ledger and had savings and current accounts.

She had been living for 20 years at the Bradford address with her cousin, Margaret Baxter, 75, who had learning difficulties and was partially deaf.

Mrs Riley was originally her cousin's carer but the roles reversed when she became ill.

Her memory was now poor and she was often confused.

Her other son, Leslie Darvill, became aware of her failing health in 2009 and trusted his brother to safeguard their mother's financial affairs.

Miss Baxter recalled Steven Darvill rarely visiting and buying his mother clothes on just one occasion.

Neighbour Alison Naylor said Mrs Riley was always short of money. Darvill did not respond when she rang him after the emergency services were called to a domestic accident at the house.

Sandra Wendel, who works at the Dove Court Day Centre, Bolton Road, Bradford, said Mrs Riley was always short of money and became distressed when asked for her lunch money. She would open a purse, empty but for a handful of foreign coins.

Mrs Naylor alerted the social services after bailiffs came to the house in March last year when the Council Tax was not paid.

Leslie Darvill, who does not live locally, confronted his brother, who told him "every last penny" had been withdrawn for "safekeeping."

The court heard Steven Darvill, a former surveyor, was made redundant in 2009 and his marriage broke up the following year. He used the money stolen from his mother to pay off debts of up to £50,000.

Darvill's solicitor advocate, Andrew Walker, said: "He is disgusted with himself and his behaviour towards his mother."

He began taking the money when his life began unravelling. He had £90,000 equity in his house to pay his mother back with.

Darvill was of previous positive good character. He had been a hard working man and he and his wife had fostered children.

But Judge Rose said he had spun a web of lies, stealing £6,000 in one go from his mother.

"Your mother, working hard all her life, after 70 odd years, was looking for foreign coins in her purse to pay for a meal at a day centre," he said.

The judge told Darvill to reflect on that in prison.