A MAN who stole thousands of pounds from an elderly dementia sufferer has escaped being jailed.

Andrew Maudsley was found guilty by jurors earlier this year of stealing £7,000 from Winifred Barnett as part of a larger scam.

The 22-year-old, from Elmhurst Way, Carterton, was given a community order at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

Recorder Nerys Jefford told Maudsley: “You were convicted in this court of one count of theft of £7,000.

“The background to that conviction was that between January 30 and February 1, 2010, you were involved in activities that had the effect of stealing from an old lady suffering from dementia a sum of £43,000.”

Recorder Jefford said money was transferred from Mrs Barnett’s account into a joint account set up by the defendant and then into his own account. He then withdraw £7,000 from that account in Richmond, London, on February 1, 2010. Mrs Barnett has since passed away.

Stephen Bailey, defending Maudsley, said his client is a roofer who is “academically impressive” but “naive”.

He added: “This is a man who learns from his mistakes. He’s tackled well what had been a problem with aggression.”

Recorder Jefford gave Maudsley a four-month curfew between 8.30pm and 6am and ordered him to do 60 hours’ unpaid work. He was also told to pay £2,400 compensation and £500 costs.