A convicted fraudster who fleeced £4,000 from his 86-year-old mother has been told by a judge to sell his house and car if necessary to pay her back.

David Gwilliams, 48, pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court yesterday to eight offences of fraud by drawing sums of £500 from cash machines using Eva Gwilliams’ bank card and pin number.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC was told Gwilliams had a bad criminal record for dishonesty, although he had not committed offences for many years.

“This man was a rogue, a liar and a cheat in the past and he’s doing the same against his own mother,” the judge said.

Gwilliams, a caravan park maintenance man, of Bathurst Road, Staplehurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, drew out the money at cash points in Otley and Scarborough, in September, 2010.

He denied the offences when police officers questioned him but confessed on the day he was set to stand trial. Mrs Gwilliams, of Burley-in-Wharfedale, was still on speaking terms with her son, Gwilliams’ barrister, Emma Downing, told the court. Miss Downing said Gwilliams was strapped for cash at the time and was very remorseful.

He was in poor health, suffering from diabetes and a heart condition. Judge Durham Hall said it was a very serious breach of trust on a vulnerable victim.

He ordered Gwilliams to repay his mother in 12 months, selling his car and house if necessary.

“It is a pretty dreadful betrayal of trust,” the judge added.

He sentenced Gwilliams to a two year community order with supervision from the probation service and 150 hours of unpaid work. The judge said he was hampered in dishing out a more severe punishment by old sentencing guidelines that would not apply to more recent offences.

He warned Gwilliams that if he failed to carry out the order he faced going to jail.