A MAN who stole money his terminally ill father had been saving for his funeral has been jailed.

Edward William Walter Hutchinson was given 29 months in prison for stealing a bank card and taking £1,500 from his father's account, assaulting his sister and damaging her television.

Burnley Crown Court heard Hutchinson's father, Desmond, who had diagnosed with terminal cancer, had started to set aside money aside for his funeral costs.

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Last December, Desmond Hutchinson became sick and dizzy and felt like collapsing at his home in Fern Street, Colne, the court was told.

Hutchinson, 25, of Eldwick Street, Burnley, rang an ambulance and his father gave him the bank card to look after.

Desmond Hutchinson passed away in February this year.

A statement taken before his death, read out by Alaric Walmsley, prosecuting, said his son's actions had broken him.

He said: "I never saw him again.

"I was told he was stealing a lot of money.

"I was always seen as a man who did not show emotion but it did break me.

"I was trusting him. He knew I was dying.

"He knew I had around six months to live. He took my love and trust."

The court also heard Hutchinson had visited his sister, Emma, at her home in Colne in May and climbed through a window and grabbed her by the neck.

Mr Walmsley said he put his thumb over her windpipe before she managed to push him away.

He said: "He grabbed a bottle of perfume and threw it at her TV, before running from the house.

"The complainant followed the defendant outside.

"A neighbour said they saw the defendant standing over the complainant while she was lying in the doorway.

"She fears going out of the house now. She only sees friends if they come there.

"She does not want any more contact with her brother, she wants to feel safe when going out to see her friends."

Hutchinson had previously admitted to theft, assault and criminal damage charges.

He had five previous convictions for eight offences, including arson.

Rachel Cooper, defending, said Hutchinson had been in and out of custody since he was 14.

She said: "The pleas were admitted at the first opportunity.

"He had a poor relationship with his father.

"He ended up running away and he could not cope with it (his father's illness)."

"He has no contact whatsoever with his family.

"(The theft) is something he would take back if he could."

Hutchinson was given 27 months in prison for one count of theft and a further two months for one count of assault and one count of criminal damage.

The court heard Hutchinson would serve half of the sentence and would be released under supervision.

A restriction order was also issued, stopping Hutchinson from contacting Miss Hutchinson, directly or indirectly, or visiting her home in Colne for five years.

Judge Sara Dodd said: "While your father was attending hospital last December, he gave you items to look after, in particular his card which had £1,500 in it.

"He told you to put it in the safe, he told you it was for his funeral.

"You took from him his love and trust.

"This theft breached a high degree of trust.

"You have previous convictions of dishonestly. These are aggravating features."