A new born baby has become Britain’s youngest ever burglary victim – after his uncle stole £110 from him, a court heard.
Alfie Harlow was given the cash from various family members as a present on the day he was born.
His mum Gemma, 24, kept the money in an envelope marked ”Alfie’s Money” in his room until it was swiped – by her brother Sam Harlow.
Harlow, 20, had visited the house earlier that day when he pre-planned the swoop by opening a window.
He later returned in the middle of the night to snatch the envelope containing £110 raised from congratulations cards.
Harlow, of Exmouth, Devon, admitted burglary, theft and possession of cannabis and was jailed for eight months and branded ”despicable’ at Exeter Crown Court.
The jail term was suspended for two years and he was ordered to undertake drug rehabilitation and do 150 hours unpaid work.
Speaking after the case Gemma, 24, said: ”I don’t know how anyone can steal from a baby. It is despicable and about as low as you can get.
”He popped round earlier that day to drop off a prescription for my mother and during that time he unlocked the window by the front door.
”That is how he got back in later. He broke back in while we were still upstairs and I was in the process of feeding Alfie.
”The money was raised for Alfie when he was born. Most of it was given by my partner’s grandparents and was to be used to start a saving account.
”My brother knew it was for Alfie and was not ours as it was in a special envelope.”
The court heard how cannabis user Harlow since spent the money on drugs and has since been disowned by his family.
Speaking from the dock Harlow told the judge: ”I have offered to pay back the money but my sister will not speak to me.”
Gemma said her brother had previously lived with them for eight months but was kicked out after suspicions he had been stealing money from them.
She added: ”There is one thing stealing money off us but off my son is something completely different. He was ten days old. I can never forgive my brother for this.
”I knew it was him straight away. He continually denied it to us until it came to court when he pleaded guilty.
”He got a suspended sentence but I thought he should have got sent down for what he did.”
Sentencing him Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, said: ”This was a particularly mean offence committed to fund your drugs habit
”You had been at the house earlier at the same time you saw this money which had been given to the new born baby Alfie.
”You went away and came back in the middle of the night. That was a pretty mean and thoroughly disreputable thing to do.
”I cannot order any compensation because you have no means.”
