A MAN jointly accused of stealing £50,000 from his father has told a jury he did not use the money for his own benefit.

Andrew Maddox, 57, of Bridgwater Drive, Westcliff, is standing trial after being charged with six counts of fraud and two counts of transferring criminal property.

His wife Diane, also 57, of Priorywood Drive, Leigh, is also charged with the same offences.

Both deny the charges.

It is alleged the couple stole money from Andrew’s father, Lionel Maddox.

Yesterday, Andrew told the jury at Basildon Crown Court the money spent and used was agreed with his father.

He said: “I wasn’t getting money out and using it for my own benefit. I used his account to pay for a train season ticket and it was a loan.

“I was not aware how much we had in the joint account and did not check or ask how much we had in there. I did not know we had £10,000 in the joint account. I was not using his account for my benefit.

“I was using his account to pay off my credit card but I was only borrowing the money. I was not just using his money to pay off my debts.”

Lionel Maddox, whose health was deteriorating with age, was moved into Westerley Christian Care Home in Westcliff in August 2017, having previously lived with the couple.

While living in the care home, transactions from Lionel Maddox’s account paid for the defendants’ Sky TV bill, flights and holidays, and cigars from Amsterdam.

Speaking from the witness box, Mr Maddox added: “He would often insist on paying for our daughter’s petrol as he was in the car, and while I had the debit card I may well have been there with them.”

The jury was previously told that Mrs Maddox told police in her interview that some of the alleged victim’s money had to be used to cover debts coming from his ongoing care home bill.

She claimed her and her husband also had to pay more for the care than they had planned.

The trial continues.