A solicitor who used money stolen from a vulnerable pensioner with dementia for a cycling and youth hostelling holiday in Switzerland was last night starting a jail term.

Michael Rigg, took more than £50,000 from building society and post office accounts of 84-year-old friend Jessie Robinson between September 2007 and July last year Rigg, who worked as a solicitor for more than 30 years, had the power of attorney over Mrs Robinson’s finances and also used her money to pay for his own mother’s nursing care.

At Leeds Crown Court yesterday the 60-year-old bachelor, of Carlton Mount, Yeadon, was sent to jail for two years and two months having previously admitted three charges of fraud by abuse of position.

Sentencing Rigg, Recorder Tahir Khan QC, said it was difficult to imagine anyone more vulnerable than Mrs Robinson, who had been a friend of the defendant for more than 30 years and treated him like a son – even bequeathing half her estate to him in her will.

He said: “You were in a position of great responsibility and trust towards Jessie Robinson and it’s been conceded on your behalf the offences you committed were a great breach of trust.

“The offending was over a substantial period of time and you persistently stole money belonging to your victim over three years.”

Louise Pryke, prosecuting, said Rigg stole a total of £51,488 through cheque and cash withdrawals from Mrs Robinson’s account.

But the alarm was raised after staff at the Leeds Building Society were concerned about the money being withdrawn by Rigg, she said.

On May 20, last year, he withdrew £100 from Mrs Robinson’s account at the Yeadon branch and told cashier Christopher Kenworthy it was to give to the victim for a holiday in Cornwall.

But the deceit was spotted when checks were made with Mrs Robinson’s care home.

Rigg, who worked for Morrish Solicitors, was arrested and confessed he had been taking the money for his own personal use, Miss Pryke said.

“He used the money for care home fees for his own mother and a holiday in Switzerland,” she said.

In mitigation for Rigg, Mark Foley said his client had not stolen the money “frivolously to support an extravagant lifestyle”, and had stayed at youth hostels during his Swiss break.

Mr Foley said: “He’s a man of good character who has committed an appalling breach of trust and has not got an explanation for it.”

He said Rigg felt remorse for what had happened and had paid back £50,000 to Mrs Robinson’s account.

He said the whole affair has caused “shame” and “vilification” for Rigg, who had had an unblemished career for more than 30 years and supported several charities and did work for the church in Yeadon.

He had not fought a move by Mrs Robinson’s new solicitors to remove him from her will, Mr Foley added.

After the hearing, temporary Detective Chief Inspector Fran Naughton, of West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “It is clear that Michael Rigg has taken advantage of his position as a trusted solicitor to steal thousands of pounds from a vulnerable, elderly lady.”

A spokesman for Morrish said: “These allegations refer to dealings undertaken by Mr Rigg without the organisation’s knowledge and do not relate to any current clients.

“Any contact Mr Rigg may have undertaken with any third party has been entirely of his own volition, and not in the course of the firm’s business.”