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09
Oct
Harrogate man who defrauded terminally ill mother jailed after breaching suspended sentence
A former salesman who defrauded his seriously ill mother has now been jailed for flagrant breaches of a suspended prison sentence.
Sean McVeigh, 54, from Harrogate, appeared at York Crown Court today (October 9) just three weeks after magistrates sentenced him for defrauding his own mother who has terminal cancer.
His appearance today was for breaching a suspended prison sentence imposed in March last year for attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
McVeigh, of Fewston Crecent, Jennyfields, admitted breaching that suspended sentence by missing two probation appointments without reasonable excuse.
‘Significant safeguarding concerns’
Prosecutor Kelly Clarke said that McVeigh’s first missed appointment was in January when he was sent a reminder text message by the Probation Service on the day and responded with a “thumbs up”.
However, a few hours later he contacted a probation officer to say he was ill and couldn’t attend.
The second breach occurred on August 19 when he claimed to have been “sick on the bus” on the way to the probation appointment.
Around that time, probation officers were growing increasingly concerned about McVeigh’s “behaviour to a vulnerable family member” and raised “significant safeguarding concerns”.
Last month at York Magistrates’ Court, McVeigh received a 24-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after he admitted defrauding his mother by requesting the transfer of £200 into his bank account.
The "appalling offending” was charged as fraud by false representation, intending to make a gain.
The court heard that McVeigh falsely told his mother that he owed £200 to York Crown Court for a fine from his court appearance in 2025 and persuaded her to put the money into his account so he could pay the fictitious financial penalty.
York Crown Court
In March last year, he received a six-month suspended prison sentence for attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
In that case, McVeigh was caught out by an adult decoy posing as a young girl online.
As part of that sentence, McVeigh was ordered to take part in rehabilitation and alcohol-treatment programmes and a sex-offenders’ course, all of which he completed.
Ms Clarke said:
However, the Probation Service say his attendance was not meaningful, (just) ticking a box.
The Probation Service said it was “false compliance” with the orders. They noted that the former salesman could be “coercive” and “showed signs of disengagement”.
McVeigh admitted two counts of failing to comply with a suspended prison sentence by missing two supervisory appointments with the Probation Service.
At his sentence today, the prosecution outlined his criminal record which comprised 18 previous offences including drink-driving, criminal damage, driving while disqualified and the online sex offences which resulted in the suspended sentence in 2025.
‘The true picture has now emerged’
Defence barrister Nathan Davis said that McVeigh had physical and mental-health problems and had been diagnosed with heart failure.
He said his health problems ultimately cost the former salesman two jobs at around the same time he was on the probation order.
He said the breaches had arisen out of “alcohol misuse and an abundance of medication for his heart issues”.
McVeigh had relied on benefits after becoming unemployed and the “only source of money was his mother”, added Mr Davis.
He said that McVeigh was “ashamed” of defrauding his own kith and kin.
Mr Davis said:
He was left homeless, as a consequence of that offence, for seven days.”
He is back living with his mother on condition that no alcohol is allowed in the address.
Judge Simon Hickey - who gave McVeigh the original suspended sentence last year after being persuaded by his barrister that he could mend his ways - told the defendant:
I think the true picture has now emerged about you, Sean McVeigh.
You are a man who is completely looking out for yourself. You are completely selfish and the fact that you are living with your mother fills me with dread.
She is in the throes of terminal cancer and I don’t think having you around is helping her whatsoever.
The judge added:
You are a man who has hoodwinked many people. I think you started by hoodwinking me on the last occasion and I don’t find it unjust to send you to prison.
McVeigh was jailed for four months for the two order breaches.
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