A former school cleaner who stole thousands of pounds from his dying father-in-law started a jail sentence on Tuesday .

Colchester magistrates were told how David Jordan, 49, of Erle Havard Way , West Bergholt, was asked by his wife's father, Donald Crow, to look after his bank cards while he was in hospital.

But as Mr Crow lay dying in Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Jordan made 17 separate cash withdrawals using his father-in-law's cards.

Jordan, who admitted four counts of theft and asked for 13 other offences to be taken into consideration, has been sent to prison for two months and ordered to pay £3,450 in compensation to the estate of the now-deceased Mr Crow.

The court heard how Jordan had used the stolen £3,450 to buy a car and a new fridge, pay for £1,000 of vehicle repairs and to cover various household bills.

Dinah Walters , prosecuting, branded the thefts "systematic", adding that they were meant as an act of revenge against Mr Crow.

The withdrawals were first noticed by Mr Crow's sister when she realised more than £3,000 was missing from his accounts.

The court was told how Mr Crow learned of the thefts before he died and immediately altered his will, cutting out Jordan and his wife Serena, in favour of their two sons, who are aged ten and 18.

Explaining why Jordan sought revenge, Matthew Welch, for Jordan, said: "He is very close to his wife. Mrs Jordan was brought up by Mr Crow until she was 16 years old.

"She left shortly after Mr Crow remarried. They were difficult circumstances and she left home feeling neglected by her father, but she did try reconciliation at the time he fell ill."

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