A PENSIONER who carried his life savings in a Quality Street tin in the hope of buying a static caravan in Blackpool, said he had ‘given up’ on his dream of living by the sea after being robbed in the resort.

Walter Morris, 75, was carrying £26,000 in the tin, when he stopped for a sit down at the slot machines in Blackpool’s Coral Island amusements on April 24.

The father-of-three, who is the full time carer for his son Walter, was hoping to use the money to buy a caravan so he and his son could relocate.

But before Mr Morris was able to find his ‘dream’ home, Liam Davis, 23, and 17-year-old Aaron Scott decided to steal the tin.

The pair, who had no idea about the contents, even tried to sell it for £5 on the promenade.

But after finding no takers they opened the tin and £6,000 blew away and was chased by holidaymakers.

Yesterday, Judge Anthony Lancaster sentenced Davis, of Penrose Avenue, Marton to four months in prison after he admitted stealing the tin.

Scott, also from Blackpool, pleaded guilty to theft and will be sentenced on June 22 at Lancaster Crown Court, after the preparation of a pre sentence report.

Speaking after the case Mr Morris, of Bolton Road, Blackburn said: “I have had to cancel my plans to move to Blackpool now I’ve lost the money. I resigned myself to dying in this house.

“The lad who did it will only serve a couple of months in prison. It doesn’t seem fair.”

After finding the money the pair took £13,000 and began a shopping spree, dumping the tin with £7,000 still inside nearby.

They were eventually caught, having spent a small amount of the cash on a mobile phone and some clothes.

Mr Morris has been given back just short of £20,000 of the money but £6,000 remains unaccounted for.

DS Jane Atkinson, from Blackpool CID, said: “We believe that some of the missing money was spent by the offenders on beer, taxis and other frivolous things.

“Fortunately, the majority of the cash, including that which was blown onto the prom, was given back to the victim. However, the incident has been a significant setback for him and he has not yet realised his dream of buying a caravan.”