A MAN robbed his 74-year-old mother of £30,000.

Robert Allen, admitted to stealing the money on various occasions between May 1, 2013 and March 26, 2015 at Alloway Street in Ayr and at other locations in Troon and elsewhere.

The court heard how the 42-year-old was put in charge of his mother’s finances after her husband passed away, which lead to Allen taking the money for himself and ‘setting up direct debits’ for dating and adult websites.

He appeared before Sheriff John Montgomery at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.

Depute Fiscal, Amanda Allan, explained: “The complainer is the accused mother – she was widowed in 2013. At the time [before his death] her husband had dealt with the finances and when he died, she gave the accused the bank cards and the pin.

“After some time, the complainer contacted her sister and told her that she went to the bank and that there was no money in her account.

“The accused had been withdrawing £200 to £300 on a regular basis and direct debits had been set up for dating and adult websites that the complainer did not know about.”

It is understood that there was £12,000 in the savings account and £5760 in an ISA account.

Speaking on his behalf, defence solicitor Tony Currie, said: “To put it bluntly, he was using this money for himself. In his current circumstances he won’t be able to repay the sum.

“This is a matter that brings Mr Allen a great degree of shame.”

Sheriff Montgomery deferred sentence on Allen, who now stays in Castlemilk, for enquiries to be made regarding the mother’s attitude towards the incident.