Secret recording caught man admitting £20k theft

Wayne Feeney received a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court

A thief was caught on a secret recording confessing to stealing more than £20,000 of his family's savings, a court has heard.

Golf professional Wayne Feeney, 37, took the money during regular visits to his mother and stepfather's home, where the cash was stored in a locked box, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

After being questioned and then released without further action due to a lack of evidence, Feeney made admissions on a recording made covertly by one of his victims.

Having admitted two counts of theft, Feeney, of Mill Close in Brandon near Durham, was jailed for 22 months suspended for 18 months and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Feeney's stepfather stored his £20,300 savings and £4,300 belonging to Feeney's aunt in a locked box at his home, prosecutor Saba Shan said.

Between April and August 2023, Feeney plundered the box on several occasions without his family realising, taking £19,480 from his stepfather and £1,000 from his aunt, the court heard.

When the theft was discovered and reported to police, Feeney rang his mother asking her to drop the charges or he would kill himself, the court heard.

Future 'ruined'

In his police interview, he denied taking the money and, due to a lack of evidence, was released without further action, Ms Shan said.

Feeney's stepfather then decided to secretly record a conversation with the thief, the court heard.

After being told his actions were "unforgivable", Feeney was recorded breaking down in tears and telling his stepfather he would repay the money which he admitted stealing.

In a statement read to the court, Feeney's stepfather said the future he had planned had been "ruined" by the loss of the money and the dream retirement he had hoped for for himself and his wife was "gone".

During the period of the theft, Feeney would regularly "pop in as normal" and talk about things like the weather and football, all while stealing from the victims, the man said.

Feeney's aunt said he had breached the family's trust and he "had no right to help himself" to their money, adding she never wanted to see him again.

'Significant impact'

In mitigation, Nick Lane said Feeney had been struggling with cocaine and alcohol use at the time and lost his job as a golf professional.

The court heard Feeney had repaid some of the money to his stepfather but there was still £18,430 outstanding.

Judge Sarah Mallett said the theft had a "significant and ongoing impact" which would "continue to be felt" by Feeney's family.

But, she said, Feeney had "made improvements" to his life including getting help for his drug addiction and had a "prospect of very good employment".

Feeney was ordered to pay £18,430 in compensation, while a restraining order banning Feeney from contacting his stepfather or going to his home was also made.