A former publishing executive who fleeced his disabled father of more than £65,000 to pay drug dealer debts has been jailed.

Andrew Mitchell, 42, stole, scanned and forged his father’s bank statements while the 69-year-old was recovering from a stroke and a fractured hip.

Mitchell, of Kendra Hall Road, South Croydon, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation and one of fraud at Croydon Crown Court on July 6.

He was jailed for a year.

The court heard how Mitchell, who also stole £1,600 from his new girlfriend to go on the run, moved in with his father Martin Mitchell at his flat in Chestnut Court, Wallington, to act as his carer and between October 2009 and November 2011 proceeded to empty his account.

Mitchell, who has a daughter aged seven, also falsely took money from his girlfriend’s bank account.

Prosecuting, Andrew Ramsubhag said Martin Mitchell discovered the theft when called by his bank.

He said: “His account was now emptied and so were his other accounts with Nationwide and Santander.

“His entire savings of £66,000 had been withdrawn over the course of a year.

“Mr Mitchell junior had been intercepting his father’s bank statements, scanning them into his computer and altering them to show he was in funds when in fact he was pilfering from them.

“He was withdrawing cash at ATMs, using his father’s cardsand it started as soon as he began living with his father.

“The defendant’s girlfriend contacted police and told them she had her cards stolen by the defendant, which were then used to withdraw from her account and purchase a ticket to leave the country and flee to France.”

Mitchell was persuaded to return to the UK and gave himself up at Wallington police station on November 21 last year.

Mr Ramsubhag said: “He told police he was in debt up to £25,000, which was a long-term drug debt to a dealer who had been in prison and then released.

“The rest was living expenses and buying gifts for his daughter online.”

The court was told drug debts from raves 15 years ago were demanded by old acquaintances resulting in Mitchell also turning to drink.

Defending Robert Conway said: “This is someone whose life imploded around him and was placed under increasingly huge financial pressures.

“He has suffered the guilt and shame of this and knows it will hang over him for the rest of his life.”