‘I couldn’t stay’: Menacing grandchild Adam Loader drove grandfather to the brink

A heartbroken grandfather was forced to flee the Illawarra to escape his abusive grandson, with a court hearing he would steal the victim’s pension money and belongings before pawning them. WARNING: Distressing content.

Adam Loader (left) leaving Wollongong Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

A Warilla Grove trolley collector’s depraved actions “ripped” a family apart and drove his grandfather out of town and to the brink of suicide, a court has heard.

The tragic reality of elder abuse was revealed in the victim impact statement tendered during Adam Loader’s sentence in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday.

Loader, 33, was found guilty during a previous hearing of demanding property with menace and the intent to steal.

The court heard he bullied his grandfather, who was in his 70s at the time, during a three-year period between 2017 and 2020.

It was heard Loader would take his grandfather’s belongings, such as his television, vacuum, jewellery, lawnmower and whipper snippers, before pawning them off.

The victim, who is an aged pensioner, was left scrambling and forced to go to the pawn dealer to buy back the stolen possessions.

Many of the items were pawned off multiple times including the Sanyo television which went through the cycle on a dozen occasions.

Adam Loader would follow his grandfather to the Bendigo Bank before taking his pension money. Picture: Google Maps

The court heard Loader would also steal his grandfather’s pension payments, and follow the victim to his bank before demanding he hand over the cash.

It was heard Loader would stand over his grandfather and threaten to headbutt and stab the victim if he did not oblige.

“This offence and what happened over time made me feel very bad and scared for my safety in my own home,” read the heartbreaking victim impact statement which detailed how the offending led him to part from his wife and live with a different grandson elsewhere.

“I couldn’t stay as it was unsafe and I’d had enough. When I left the Illawarra I was suicidal... it was either drive over Macquarie Pass to commit suicide or drive to the country and get away.

Adam Loader learnt his fate in Wollongong Local Court.

“I walked from the house with a bag of possessions – just a plastic bag of clothes. [My other grandson] and his family got me back on my feet.

“Because of this case, it’s ripped the family apart. This happened because Adam’s nana – my wife – is ringing and saying if my grandson goes to jail it’s my fault.

“We used to be a close family and would have been 60 years married this year. Now I’m only in contact with two of six of my children as the others black me for the situation the grandson is in.

“Even giving this information is making me upset and crying.”

In court on Thursday, Magistrate Gabriel Fleming scorned Loader for having “no remorse and no contrition” for the impact he had on his grandfather.

“It is quite clear the only person to blame is you,” Ms Fleming said.

“You caused this result... These have not been good decisions at all. There is a considerable amount of evidence this offending was for your own gain.”

Loader, who was supported in court by three relatives, was sentenced to a two-year intensive correction order and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.

Ms Fleming added a requirement Loader see a doctor to obtain a mental healthcare plan and see a psychiatrist.