Police release picture of drug-troubled son who stole from his dad and locked him in his own South Yorkshire home

Sheffield Crown Court heard on November 20 how Paul Ebery, aged 41, of Kingsway Grove, Thurnscoe, Rotherham, stole £60 from his 80-year-old father before he demanded money and refused to let him leave his own Barnsley home.

Allan Armbrister, prosecuting, said: “He prevented the victim from leaving the house because of an argument over money.

“He removed the door keys, not only to the front door but the rear door as well, and when his father, the victim, tried to leave the property through a large living room window to the rear of the property the defendant stopped him.”

The complainant stated there had been an injunction aganst his son, according to Mr Armbrister, because of his drug habit but when Ebery’s mother became ill this was lifted and the defendant became drug-free and had a job.

However, Mr Armbrister said in 2018 the complainant suspected Ebery had started taking drugs again and the defendant started demanding money.

Ebery stole £60 from his father after the complainant agreed to let him withdraw cash on August 29 with his bank card but instead of taking an agreed £40 he withdrew £100.

After the complainant of Birkwood Avenue, Barnsley, discovered what had happened he refused to meet his son’s demands for a further £30 on August 30 so Ebery locked his father in the house for about 30 minutes, according to Mr Armbrister.

Mr Armbrister added Ebery stopped his father from escaping through a window and stopped him phoning police until he handed money to his son.

Ebery pleaded guilty to committing theft and false imprisonment.

Ian Goldsack, defending, said Ebery had struggled with a drug addiction but had brought himself out of it and had returned to his family home to support his parents during his mother’s illness and before her death.

Mr Goldsack added Ebery and his father had at times borrowed money from each other.

Judge Jeremy Richardson QC sentenced Ebery to 12 months of custody with a five-year restraining order.

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