A MAN who stole more than £40,000 from his own mum to feed a drug and gambling addiction has been jailed.

Jamie Humphrey, 31, of Farm Street in Barrow, was sentenced to two years and two months after he pleaded guilty to charges of criminal damage and theft.

Barrow Crown Court was told police first became aware Humphrey had stolen £43,000 from his mother Ann Humphrey after they visited her house following reports of criminal damage by the defendant.

The court heard Humphrey had stormed into his mum’s house just before midnight on December 3, smashed her TV and threw pictures of his dead father into the fireplace.

It was then Mrs Humphrey told police officers her son had taken the vast sum of money from her over a seven-month period.

Prosecutor Frank Dillon said the defendant was his mum’s carer and exploited access to her bank account to funnel money to himself in order to pay for his addictions.

In a victim impact statement, she said she had been suffering from anxiety and was afraid to leave her home after reporting her son to the police.

Defence barrister Richard Vardon said his client had suffered mentally with the case passing through the court system.

Judge Beverley Lunt sentenced Humphrey to 26 months in prison for the theft and two months concurrent for the criminal damage.

She also imposed a restraining order banning the defendant from visiting or contacting his mother.

Judge Lunt said to Humphrey: “You left your mother with nothing.There is only one victim here and it’s not you.”

After the case, Mrs Humphrey said: "I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in this sad situation."

Police constable Liam Oliver said the defendant ‘targeted a vulnerable individual’.