A sibling rivalry over the family inheritance has been exposed in court after a sister filmed her brother putting laxatives in her milk in an attempt to get her to leave the family home. 

Robert McCabe, 69, was caught on camera tipping laxatives into her milk on two or three occasions over a two-week period at their house.  

Sharon, who has pancreatitis, experienced stomach pains in April 2020 following the sabotage and had to be hospitalised. 

After this incident at their house on Starkey Street in Heywood, Manchester, and noticing that her milk smelled of chemicals, Sharon set up the camera trap.

When she discovered what was going on she said: ‘I was shocked and saddened that he could be so malicious and vindictive towards me.’

Judge Maurice Greene said at the sentencing: ‘This involved the sort of sibling rivalry a man of your age shouldn’t be involved in.

‘What you did was inexcusable, juvenile behaviour, and it was not on another juvenile – you knew your sister had health problems.’ 

Robert McCabe, 69, was sentenced to an 18-month community order; and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements for putting laxatives in his sister’s milk

Sharon, who has pancreatitis, experienced stomach pains in April 2020 following the sabotage and had to be hospitalised

Their mother had rented the house from the council before she died, and after her death Robert, Sharon and their brother Desmond continued to live there.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Robert later became the owner of the property, as his ‘name was on the paperwork’ but it was another brother, Dennis, who ‘funded the mortgage’.

Things turned sour when Dennis passed away and left the house to Sharon’s son in his will.

Sharon said: ‘I’ve been through hell over the last three-and-a-half years thinking about what he did to me’

Robert, Sharon and brother Desmond continued to live at the property in Heywood after their mother passed away

Sharon said: ‘I’ve been through hell over the last three-and-a-half years thinking about what he did to me. 

‘I genuinely believe that he will do anything to get me to leave my family home of 41 years, and I no longer have contact with my siblings.

‘I feel like I am being punished by them.’

Robert plead guilty to maliciously administering a noxious thing to annoy, injure or aggrieve, under the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861. 

He was made the subject of an 18-month community order; and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements.