Man Jailed For Posing As His Father To Steal £50,000 – Spent On Greggs And Onlyfans

31-year-old jailed after £50,000 fraud on his vulnerable father

Stephan Dewar, 31, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison after admitting he stole £50,000 from his 67-year-old father, Andrew Dewar. The theft took place between 2019 and 2022 and funded a lifestyle that included spending on Greggs and subscriptions to OnlyFans.

The case was heard at Dundee Sheriff Court where fiscal depute Jill Drummond outlined the scale of the fraud. Dewar was ultimately found to have used his father’s banking details to move money without consent.

How the fraud unfolded

Gaining access

Dewar first obtained his father’s bank details after convincing him to lend £5,000 towards the purchase of a pub. He then used that information to set up online banking in his father’s name, even though Andrew did not use the internet or online banking services.

The court heard that Dewar also impersonated his father during telephone calls with the bank. Recorded calls were reviewed and identified as Dewar pretending to be Andrew.

Regular withdrawals and spending pattern

Investigators found that Dewar made regular withdrawals from his father’s account, often spending the money in short bursts. Much of the cash was used on drink, entertainment and items and services that were beyond his means.

Andrew had suffered a stroke in 2007 and received a substantial pension from his previous employment, which the court noted made him vulnerable to this kind of exploitation.

"This was a fundamental betrayal of trust – a son should protect his parent, not exploit their vulnerability," said Sheriff George Way after reviewing the case.

Court response and sentence

Sheriff George Way described the offence as a despicable crime and said Dewar had breached a profound obligation to safeguard his father. The sheriff also criticised Dewar for repeatedly failing to appear in court, adding that those absences created extra cost and inconvenience for the public.

Dewar’s solicitor, Scott Norrie, told the court his client understood the seriousness of the offence and felt shame, embarrassment and fear over his actions. Norrie said Dewar had "buried his head in the sand" and continued with his ordinary life while ignoring court proceedings.

Discovery and aftermath

The family’s concern grew when Andrew’s brother, who held Power of Attorney, noticed large sums had gone from his account. A subsequent investigation revealed the pattern of withdrawals and linked them to Stephan Dewar.

After admitting the fraud, Dewar was sentenced to two years behind bars for the £50,000 theft. The case serves as a reminder of how financial abuse can target vulnerable older people and the importance of oversight when someone holds access to another’s finances.