Son stole $50,000 from mother 'to buy a house' court told

The teen pleaded guilty to a representative charge of unlawfully obtaining $57,830 by deception. Photo / File

A son who stole $50,000 from his mother says he wanted to buy a house and pay the money back before she noticed it was gone.

Ryan Spencer Billington, 19, was tasked by his mum to help her move back to the UK.

The teenage labourer from Rangiora in North Canterbury set up a telephone banking account so that she could access money, Christchurch District Court heard today.

But between August 7 and December 7 last year, Billington pretended to be his mother and used her account ID and pin number to siphon money into his own bank account.

He started transferring smaller amounts - between $30 and $1000 - but then after the first month, he "became more confident" and started transferring amounts of up to $5000, a police summary of facts says.

In total, he transferred $97,070 from his mother's bank account into his own.

Of that, $20,000 was a legitimate civil loan for a house deposit and $19,240 was either transferred to a cash card his mother used or was put towards their flights to the UK.

Today, Billington pleaded guilty to a representative charge of unlawfully obtaining $57,830 by deception.

Judge Tony Couch remanded him on bail to be sentenced on August 23.

A restorative justice conference between him and his mother will be considered ahead of sentencing.