Burnley ex-teacher is told to repay stolen money (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley ex-teacher is told to repay stolen money

4:00pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

A RETIRED teacher who rifled the bank account of a stroke victim has been ordered to repay her £3,353.

Former St Hilda’s RC High history teacher Alan Hiscox was convicted at Burnley Crown Court in August of stealing the cash from the bank account of Barbara Blades.

He was supposed to have been be looking after the affairs of Mrs Blades, who had suffered two strokes and a brain haemorrhage.

But instead Hiscox, of Kirkfell Drive, Burnley, helped himself to her savings over a 12-month period.

A crown court recorder branded him ‘an absolute disgrace’ as he imposed a nine-month prison sen-tence, suspended for 18 months.

Hiscox, 66, has now been brought back before the courts after a financial investigation by Det Con Adrian Crorken, of Lancashire Constabulary’s proceeds of crime unit.

An inquiry showed he had £56,000 worth of realisable assets and could pay Mrs Blades back the full amount in compensation.Judge Jonathan Gibson said that if Hiscox failed to repay the money by January 25 then he must serve a 10-week prison sentence in default.

The previous hearing was told that Mrs Blades had been friends with Hiscox’s partner for around 35 years.

But the victim was worried about the possible court sentence for the ex-teacher as his partner suffered from motor neurone disease and dementia.

Hiscox, a member of the Ighten Hill Bowling Club, blamed credit card debts as his excuse for carrying out the thefts.