A man has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing £50,000 from his frail father and spending the money on personal indulgences, including food from Greggs Bakery and subscriptions to OnlyFans.
Stephan Dewar, 31, pleaded guilty to a fraudulent scheme involving impersonating his father to access his bank account between May 2019 and April 2022. Sheriff George Way described the crime as "despicable," noting that Dewar breached a profound obligation to protect his father.
Dewar's father, Andrew Dewar, 67, who suffered a stroke in 2007, is virtually housebound and does not use the internet or online banking. He had a substantial pension and agreed to lend his son £5,000 for a pub purchase, unaware that Stephan Dewar would use his bank details to set up online banking in his father's name without his knowledge.
The court heard that Stephan Dewar made phone calls to the bank pretending to be his father to facilitate transactions. His uncle, who held power of attorney for the elder Mr. Dewar, noticed significant discrepancies in the account and initiated an investigation.
During the investigation, it became apparent that Stephan Dewar had been making regular withdrawals from his father's account, totaling £50,000. These funds were largely spent on everyday items and subscriptions. Transactions included spending at Harlequins Bar, William Hill betting, frequent payments to OnlyFans, and purchases from M&S, Sainsbury's, and Greggs Bakery.
Dewar's defense solicitor stated that his client appreciated the seriousness of the offense and expressed shame, embarrassment, and fear. He also explained that Dewar had failed to appear in court multiple times because he had "buried his head in the sand." The solicitor acknowledged that his client had taken advantage of a vulnerable, elderly man for his own needs.
Sheriff Way emphasized the need for punishment and deterrence, stating that Dewar had exhausted the court's compassion and that a strong message needed to be sent to the public. He also noted that Dewar's failure to appear for court proceedings had incurred significant public cost and inconvenience.