Full Breakdown
Son Who Stole £50,000 from Vulnerable Father Sentenced to Two Years
8/26/2026, 9:53:01 PM
Core Fraud and Conviction
Stephan Dewar, a 31-year-old former barman, was convicted at Dundee Sheriff Court of fraudulently obtaining £50,000 from his 67-year-old father, Andrew Dewar. Over a three-year period he set up online banking in his father’s name, impersonated him in phone calls to the bank, and transferred the money to his own accounts. The funds were then spent on everyday purchases such as Greggs bakery items, modest gambling bets, public-house drinks, and 18 payments to the adult-content platform OnlyFans ranging from £3 to £15. Dewar received a custodial sentence of 24 months.
Timeline of the Scheme
- May 4 2019 – Dewar began the fraudulent scheme, creating online banking for his father and initiating unauthorized transfers.
- April 26 2022 – The last recorded transfer occurred, concluding the three-year period of theft.
Data & Statistics
- Total amount stolen: £50,000 transferred from Andrew Dewar’s account to Stephan Dewar’s accounts.
- Spending breakdown (as identified by the court):
- Frequent purchases at Harlequins Bar, M & S, Sainsbury’s, Pout Dundee, the Trades Bar and Greggs Bakery.
- Small gambling transactions with William Hill (mostly £5-£10).
- 18 payments to OnlyFans (£3-£15 each).
- Sentence: 24 months imprisonment.
Official Statements & Responses
Sheriff John Murray described Dewar’s conduct as “despicable” and emphasized the need for a punishment that the public can understand. He noted Dewar’s repeated failure to attend court, which added cost and inconvenience to the justice system, and said the court had “exhausted the compassion” and must send a message of deterrence.
Fiscal Deputy Jill Drummond explained that Andrew Dewar, who suffered a stroke in 2007 and is virtually housebound, trusted his son with a £5,000 loan for a pub purchase.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He is virtually housebound. He has a large pension from his employment. He agreed to provide it in the belief he would receive the money back.” — Ms Drummond
- “There had been transactions from Andrew Dewar's account to Stephan Dewar's account, totalling £50,000, without the knowledge of Andrew Dewar.” — Ms Drummond
- “There has been a mixture of shame, embarrassment and fear.” — Scott Norrie
