A WEDDING photographer has been told he has avoided jail – so he can repay his Down’s Syndrome brother he stole more than £11,000 from.

Father-of-two Andrew Gary Woodhouse had systematically rifled the trustee’s account for his younger brother Jason over a six-year period, Burnley Crown Court was told.

He forged the signature of a co-signatory to a savings account funded by their late parents’ pensions, to provide for Jason, who requires 24-hour care, the court heard.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Judge Jonathan Gibson said: “There is a very obvious breach of trust and this took place over a sustained period of time. And by the very nature of his difficulties your brother was a vulnerable victim.

“The question for me principally in dealing with the offence from the start is whether or not I could or should suspend the sentence. I have decided that I am going to do so, partly because of the circumstances of the case, as I am anxious, if at all possible, that your brother gets his money back.”

Woodhouse, 40, of Cumberland Avenue, Burnley, admitted fraud by false representation, namely forging the signature of Eileen Cullen between 2007 and 2013. He had no previous convictions.

The judge imposed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay £11,160 in compensation at the rate of £100 per month.

Sentence had been deferred on Woodhouse after he appeared before the same court last July to establish whether he was able to satisfy compensation payments.

The court heard he had managed to put aside £460 and, as he was still in work, was able to make further repayments.

The judge said he hoped the defendant would increase the rate of compensation if his finances allowed.

Nick Dearing, defending, said: “He is determined to repay the money. There has been a significant degree of shame and a strong sense of remorse expressed on behalf of the defendant.”

“He does remain in contact with his younger brother and sees him perhaps more regularly than he did. He still remains with his carers but my client still intends to remain a part of his life and it seems that the carers are comfortable with that.”