A crook who left a mother and daughter without heating and little food after swiping £75,000 from their bank accounts has a warrant out for his arrest.

Paul Gaughan preyed on Margaret Clifford, 87, and her daughter Patricia Clifford, 58 while claiming to care for the vulnerable pair.

But, over a four year period, the 56 year-old pocketed the cash having been given their bank cards to buy them groceries and essentials.

The women had considered the 56-year-old to be a trusted "friend".

Instead, Gaughan helped himself including spending it on PlayStation games.

He even used their money while on holiday in Spain with the mum and daughter at one stage found to only have mouldy rolls as food.

Gaughan pleaded guilty to an embezzlement charge at Glasgow Sheriff Court spanning between May 2015 and February 2019.

However, Gaughan, now of the city's Knightswood, failed to turn up for Friday's sentencing.

His defence counsel Linzi McQuade said: "He is not present and I have no explanation why."

READ NEXT:  XL Bully who mauled two dogs in Glasgow ordered to be destroyed

READ NEXT: Man plied stranger, 15, with drugs before raping her in car park

Sheriff Michael Hanlon replied: "Yes, it seems that he has been hard to trace and I have no alternative but to grant a warrant."

The court earlier heard that the Cliffords had been introduced via a friend to Gaughan, who lived near them in the west of the city.

Margaret initially cared for her daughter, who suffers from agoraphobia.

However, due to the pensioner's deteriorating eyesight, the roles reversed.

Gaughan then stepped in to supposedly help the pair and was given access to their bank cards.

The women were unaware what he was doing with the money.

The crime came to light after Margaret suffered a fall in early 2019 and there was then social work involvement.

Fiscal Lauren Donnelly told the court: "On arrival at their home, it was noted the house was cold with no heating on.

"There was no food other than mouldy rolls."

A bank statement was found which revealed that the cash being spent was not in keeping with their lifestyles.

Police were then alerted and a probe was sparked into their finances.

Miss Donnelly said: "There were numerous transactions from Google Play which is a payment method for online apps.

"Both women claimed that they had no access to a mobile phone.

"There were payments to PlayStation which neither women had knowledge of.

"They confirmed that they do not have broadband nor signed up to any TV packages. There were payments to other companies which both women had no knowledge of."

Officers were later informed that one of the bank accounts were linked to a PlayStation account belonging to Gaughan's daughter.

In October 2017, there was a transaction on Margaret's account from Spain.

Miss Donnelly added: "Enquiries confirmed at the time of this transaction, Gaughan had flew from Glasgow to Alicante."

Post Office employees confirmed that Gaughan would attend two to three times a week to withdraw in excess of £100.

The hearing was told that the two women had "no credit towards their heating."

Miss Donnelly stated: "They had little food and money and their house was unkempt."

The pair were said to have been in a state of denial initially and did not understand why they had been targeted by a "friend."

They were said to have been "extremely embarrassed and upset" about being deceived for so long.

Miss Donnelly added: "They expressed a feeling that they were somehow at fault for the matter. However, with support agencies, they realised they were the victims and distanced themselves from Gaughan."

Elizabeth McDowall, 54, was also accused of being involved in the embezzlement, but her not guilty plea was accepted.