A trusted son who stole more than £2,000 from his 69-year-old father's bank account has been told he must be sentenced by a crown court judge.

Joseph Albert Gill, 46, secretly transferred £2,085 from the bank account of his father - also called Jospeh - to his own account to fund a drugs habit.

The defendant, formerly of Falcon Street, Workington, but now of no fixed abode, was convicted of the theft after he failed to turn up for his trial.

At Carlisle's Rickergate court today, prosecuctor John Moran said Gill carried out the theft between February 1 and February 12 of this year.

"The victim has been compensated by the bank," said Mr Moran, explaining that the defendant used cash machines to transfer money from his father's account to his own without permission.

"This offence was aggravated by the breach of trust," continued Mr Moran.

"The victim had created a bank account for his son to allow him access to his benefits. The matter was denied but the defendant failed to turn up for the trial."

The prosecutor added that the defendant's most recent previous conviction was for shoplifting.

Mike Woolaghan, for Gill, said that his client committed the offence to fund what at the time was an ongoing drugs habit.

The lawyer said: "Since then, things have looked up for Mr Gill. He's been attending Unity [the drug and alcohol agency] and he is now drug free."

He said the defendant had been living in supported accommodation but he had lost that address and was now effectively homeless. The lawyer accepted there was no option for the judge other than to impose custody.

District Judge Gerald Chalk ruled that his sentencing powers for the offence were not sufficient and sent the case to Carlisle Crown Court for a hearing on January 5 next year.

Gill was remanded in custody. During the hearing, Gill admitted failing to attend court for his trial on November 22.

District judges and magistrates can impose up to six months for a single offence and no more than 12 months for more than one offence.

Crown court judges have greater sentencing powers.