A cab driver stole hundreds of pounds from two elderly women passengers.
Jonathan Boland, 40, was described as ‘despicable’ for stealing from the vulnerable victims aged 82 and 95 after driving them home from separate shopping trips.
Boland, admitted two charges of theft and one of possessing cannabis.
One victim said she is ‘on pins’ since the theft. The other said Boland had ‘taken her life away’.
Macclesfield magistrates’ court heard that on December 2 and January 26 this year, Boland picked up the women outside Tesco on Exchange Street in the town in a silver Audi.
Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, told the court the 82-year-old victim described Boland rushing her to put her bags in the boot of car. Her purse containing £55 was on top of the bag and was visible because the zip was broken.
She said: "When they arrived at her home Boland rushed out and moved her bags to her front door and drove away. It was then she realised the purse had gone."
Mrs Byrne said that during the second incident, the 95-year-old woman, who had £650 stolen, left her handbag in the footwell of the car and reported it missing to police.
She said: "Later that night police spotted the taxi and pulled it over. They found a container with cannabis. They searched his house and found a lady’s purse with identification of his 82-year-old victim, and £720 cash in his wallet.
"Boland told police he saw contents spill out into the boot of his car but decided not to place it back in the bags. He only found the handbag when he had finished work.
"There was no identification and a bundle of cash so he threw the bag in the reservoir."
Julian Farley, defending, said Boland, of Manchester Road, Macclesfield, stole the cash to feed his drug habit.
He said: "Mr Boland accepts these are despicable acts and he is ashamed of himself. He recognises that he has a drug addiction and is getting treatment."
Boland will be sentenced at Chester Crown Court next month.
In a statement read out in court the 95-year-old victim said: "I am unable to sleep and eat. This is the worst thing that has happened to me since my husband died. I have always been independent but now can’t go out without my neighbour helping me. It has taken my life away. I keep seeing his face in my mind."
The 82-year-old woman said in a statement: "The incident unnerved me. Whenever I get a taxi I am on pins until I get home. I felt sick by the incident. I sometimes feel like someone is following me. I lost weight as a reaction. It has stopped me from going out and I am distrustful of taxi drivers."
Boland’s licence has been suspending pending a Cheshire East council licensing committee hearing on March 21.
