Tearful parents plead for son to be deported after he stole life savings

A couple have broken down in tears as they pleaded for the Australian government to deport their own son, after he stole their life savings and left them facing a shocking legal battle with their bank.

Jill and Tony Lewis appeared on Channel 9’s A Current Affair to reveal the horrific moment they returned from holiday to find their bank accounts had been emptied by their son Russell.

“Please deport my son, because I’ve had enough… I never want to see him again,” Tony pleaded on air.

Meanwhile his emotional wife Jill broke down in tears as she told viewers: “Please deport Russell because I don’t want to see him again.”

She added: “I just can’t believe that he would do it to his own family.”

DEPORT MY SON: Families don't always see eye to eye But Tony and Jill Lewis say their son Russell has crossed the line for the final time. #9ACA | WATCH THE FULL STORY: https://t.co/FR7ZFqb3Ir pic.twitter.com/egQ7eEBC7N

— A Current Affair (@ACurrentAffair9) May 29, 2018

Asked if she still loves her son, Jill said: “It’s just too difficult to have feelings for him.”

It began five years ago when the couple, who moved to Australia from the UK more than three decades ago, headed on holiday back to England. They told their bank they would leave their accounts idle while they were gone, meaning no transactions would be made.

Read more: Do you find it easier to love your grandkids than your own children?

However, having said an emotional goodbye to Russell – who even kissed them farewell – they couldn’t have known what he had planned.

Before they had even landed in the UK, Russell had broken into their home, found their pin numbers for their accounts, and begun stealing their money. He drained thousands each day, until it racked up to $47,100. 

The callous son also stole two TVs, a quad bike, a vacuum, a portable air conditioning unit and more.

Tony and Jill didn’t know about the deception until they got back to Australia, and were told by their bank that every single one of their accounts had been emptied. Russell was eventually jailed for the crime, and isn’t due to be released until 2020.

Now, the couple are having to re-live parenthood as they’ve been left caring for their son’s six-year-old daughter. They have even had to close their business to pay off the debts racked up by him.

“We had to borrow money to pay the rent this month, that’s how bad it’s got,” Tony told the show, while Jill went on:”We thought we’d be retired now.”

However, the nightmare wasn’t over there, as they claim they’ve been locked in a legal battle with Commonwealth Bank for five years – racking up huge legal bills in the process.

Read more: Is it okay to bill your own children for staying with you?

The bank allegedly accused Tony of being part of a “family scam” when he contacted them to warn them of the fraud – and denied him a fraud investigation.

A tearful Jill said: “If you can’t trust your bank with your details, who can you trust?” While Tony added: “You’re trying to go to sleep, but all that’s going through your head is ‘when will it end’.”

Commonwealth Bank has since apologised to the couple, and have called for an urgent review into the case.

Can you understand them wanting to never see their son again? How do you think you’d feel in this situation?