London, October 20: An 18-year-old ran off with his stepmother after being reunited with his father for the first time since he was a baby, a court has heard.
Benjamin Smith met his father Andrew Smith in the summer of last year and moved in to his house to begin the family life both men had never enjoyed.
But the emotional reunion went disastrously wrong for the father.
Benjamin Smiith with his stepmother Dawn outside York Magistrate’s Court
His 34-year-old wife Dawn began an affair with her teenage stepson and eventually the marriage collapsed, York Magistrates’ Court was told.
The unlikely couple left to begin a new life together 60 miles away in Lincoln. But they still had access to the former family home and on one visit Benjamin Smith stole 200 euros in cash belonging to his father.
Jobless Smith pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to 60 hours unpaid work as well as paying his father the 200 euros (worth just under £200) in compensation.
Neither the father, son or stepmother are available for comment and the full circumstances of how they came to be reunited after so many years apart were not revealed in court.
Benjamin ran off with his stepmother after being reunited with his father last year
John Howard, defending, said Smith was unaware that Andrew Smith was his father until June of last year. After they met he moved in with his father and his wife.
‘A relationship developed between the defendant and Dawn Smith resulting in the break up of the marriage of Dawn Smith and the complainant,’ he said.
‘Since that period of time Dawn Smith and Benjamin Smith moved from York. He is away from the area and has started a fresh life in Lincoln with Dawn Smith.’
John Swoboda, prosecuting, told the court Andrew Smith bought 900 euros from a travel agent in York and left them in his bedside cabinet. He was away from home overnight on July 1and when he returned 200 euros were missing and there was no sign of a break-in.
His wife and her new lover had visited the house that day as she was looking for family passports.
The court heard the son saw the money in a drawer and took it. Although he was jobless he had recently finished a sports and leisure qualification and was looking for work.
–Agencies–