A despicable brother stole his young sister's games console and sold it to pay off drug debts.
Connor Gibson left the little girl upset by helping himself to her Nintentdo Switch, which she had just got for her birthday and which was her pride and joy.
The shameful sibling sold the console for a fraction of its value to pay off dealers, a court heard.
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Rachel Glover, prosecuting, said the theft happened at Gibson's mum's home in Ashington, Northumberland, in May.
Miss Glover told Newcastle Crown Court : "The defendant lives with his grandparents due to issues in the past with things being taken.
"He was allowed to be there but had to be supervised.
"Her nine-year-old daughter has a Nintendo Switch worth £238 and it then had a memory card worth £35 and a game she was playing on it. The total value was £322."
On May 12, Gibson went to the house and stole the console.
He sold the console at CEX for £119, from where it was retrieved and returned to the girl.
Gibson's mum said in a victim impact statement: "The Nintendo is her pride and joy and she only recently got it for her birthday.
"I can't believe my own son could do this to his sister. She kept crying because of what happened and keeps asking why he stole it. I've tried to explain it but it's difficult.
"I'm devastated my own son could do this to his nine-year-old sister, I can never trust him again."
Gibson, 23, of Ashington, pleaded guilty to theft and breaching an earlier suspended prison sentence.
He was given eight weeks suspended for 12 months with a four month curfew, £119 compensation and a £500 fine.
Richard Bloomfield, defending, said: "Mean is probably the best way of describing the offence.
"Fortunately the item was was recovered, although no thanks to the defendant.
"His mother was in an impossible position. She's here to support him and one can only have the greatest admiration for her standing by him."
The court heard Gibson gets £1,100 a month in Universal Credit.
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