A son who swindled his elderly parents out of their savings to fund his gambling and drug habits has been exposed. Ian Riddell, 48, drained the bank accounts of his parents, Jean and John Riddell, over a two-year period, pilfering a total of £31,547.50.
The scam came to light on February 5, 2024, when Jean was unable to pay for her groceries at the supermarket. Upon visiting Lloyds bank on Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, she discovered her account had slipped into overdraft and her husband’s account held a mere £160.
Jean reached out to her daughter, Paula Chidlow, who reported the incident to Merseyside Police. Paula scrutinised her mother’s online bank statement and found a recent £400 payment made to Ian Riddell, with approximately £12,000 missing in total.
Read More
Related Articles
Read More
Related Articles
The case was heard at Liverpool Crown Court on April 23. It was revealed that Paula had “begun to suspect the defendant (her brother) was involved in the money that had seemingly disappeared into thin air”.
She accompanied her mother to Lloyds where they discovered Riddell had fraudulently taken out a £1,000 loan in Jean’s name, set up an overdraft on her account, and even applied for a credit card under her name. Additionally, several deposits had been made into an online betting account, Betfred, reports the Liverpool Echo.
In total, the “vulnerable” 73 year old was defrauded of £21,201.51.
He also emptied the savings of his 76 year old father John, who was battling memory issues. From July 2023 to January 2024, he carried out 93 separate bank transactions, nicking a total of £10,3454.99.
This massive loss left the elderly couple struggling to pay for basic necessities like gas, electricity and food. They were swamped with letters about unpaid bills and had to rely on their daughter for financial help.
Jean later confronted her son, telling him: “I don’t know how you can sleep at night after what you have done to us.”
Riddell, from Rice Lane, Fazakerley, responded: “I’m sorry, it wasn’t me, it was the demon of my addiction.”
He promised her he would hand himself over to the police.
Prosecutor Oliver Saddington said: “In interview the defendant admitted taking money from both his parents and said it occurred over a 15 month period using Jean’s online banking to send himself money from her account, and he set that application up on his own phone so he had complete access to her account. He further stated he would take his dad’s bank card from the house to get cash and he had lied to his mum about what it was for. He laughed during the interview when discussing this and said he would lie and manipulate his mother.”
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you’re on mobile, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!
If you’re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
He pleaded guilty to eight counts of fraud.
Ben Berkson, the barrister defending the case mentioned: “These offences strike at the heart of the criminal justice system and demonstrate a breach of trust, characterised by the defendant’s selfishness. But these offences were brought about by maladaptive behaviours caused by a relapse into class A drug addiction and a gambling habit, which led to the defendant thinking only of himself, rather than the legal consequences and, more importantly, the consequences for his family.”
“The grip of drug abuse can be powerful and it can override morals. There are people who don’t beat it soon enough. It can be no excuse. But the defendant is assisted by the prompt admissions and guilty pleas. There are other sides of the defendant’s character. There are references that speak of an ability to engage, an ability to change, and a motivation to help himself and others.”
While sentencing, Judge David Aubrey stated: “Both victims were your own mother and father, and in effect you bled their accounts dry. The offences were planned… and they occurred over a protracted period of time. Your father was either showing the early signs of dementia or had memory issues, but I’m satisfied – because your mother was described as being ‘confused’ – that both your parents were vulnerable.”
“You applied for a credit card loan and overdraft in your mother’s name and made withdrawals from her account. You plundered that account and by the time these despicable and mean offences were discovered her account was overdrawn by £749.44. She is, in effect, now penniless. All her savings are gone, as are the majority of her husband’s – your father’s.”
“You made numerous ATM withdrawals. There are 93 transactions that you completed from both accounts. Both now suffer from financial hardships and these offences, targeting your own vulnerable parents, occurred over a sustained period. There was also an element of sophistication involved. You used your mother’s online banking to send yourself money from her account. You had set up that app on your own phone. Her bank account was literally in your dishonest hands.”
Riddell of Rice Lane, Fazakerley, was locked up and was handed a 5-year restraining order banning him from contacting his parents for 3 years.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.
