A man stole £6,000 from his vulnerable uncle to fund his addiction to cocaine, a court has heard.
Cormac Follen knew his relative suffers from learning difficulties and that he kept his bank card in his bedroom with the PIN written down next to it.
Norwich Crown Court heard Follen, now 26, took the card and withdrew around £6,000 between November 2023 and November 2024.
Richard Paterson, prosecuting, said Follen took the bank card and stole the cash to fund his cocaine addiction.
The theft only became apparent after the victim fell into arrears with a car finance company and the fraudulent transactions were discovered.
Mr Paterson said Follen's former partner Charlie Grimsey had previously admitted theft of £3,000.
Appearing before King's Lynn Magistrates in May Grimsey, then 25 and of Salts Road, West Walton, was given 26 weeks custody, suspended for 12 months.
But Follen's case was sent up to the crown court as it was deemed too serious to be dealt with in the lower court.
Mr Paterson said Follen was "clearly the principal offender" who had been leading and "directing" the fraud.
He said there had been "deliberate targeting of a vulnerable family member".
Follen, also of Salts Road, West Walton, near Wisbech, appeared in court on Thursday after he admitted theft.
Duncan O'Donnell, mitigating, said there was "genuine remorse" from Follen, who had no previous convictions and had done it to fund a cocaine habit.
But he said Follen had told him he had "not touched cocaine" since ending up in court over this and was now in employment.
He said Follen, who has been diagnosed with ADHD, hoped to soon have money available to "start making reparations".
Judge Andrew Shaw said: "It's difficult to think of a meaner offence than stealing money from a vulnerable family member whose vulnerabilities were well known to you."
He said Follen had shown "opportunistic meanness" in targeting his uncle and insisted he could "have little complaint if I sent you to prison".
But taking into account his plea, lack of previous convictions and the fact he was now in work - with the potential to pay back the cash - Judge Shaw imposed a 20-month prison term suspended for two years.
He also ordered Follen to pay back the £6,000 by imposing a compensation order at £167 per month.
"Make sure you pay every penny back," said Judge Shaw.
Follen was also made the subject of a six-month electronically monitored curfew between 8.30pm and 6am.
