Money teens and a narcissistic father! Any advice please!

[KatieBw]

My DS lives with me and my partner and our DD. My sons father (not my current partner) is a nightmare, doesn't pay anything towards my son, kind of emotionally grooms him, took me to court repeatedly and for many years, making vexatious allegations about me and my care of our DS. It has been hellish.

He goes for months without contacting my son but is now back in touch and has given him £500 cash without discussion with me. My son is quite vulnerable, a few SEN and prone to making reckless decisions in the past with recreational drugs and vodka etc. I do not want my DS wandering around with cash, apart from anything else I'd like him to get a p/t job and understand the value of money. So I have taken the money to look after it, I see it as a safeguarding issue.

Does anyone have a view on this? My DS has returned from a meal with his dad absolutely riled up about the money and insisting I have "stolen" it. The dad does things like this, that he knows I won't like, in order to create division & stress between my son and I. The dad won't currently speak to me so no point in discussing, my DS is furious and thinks he can shout and bully me into complying (just like dad used to!)
Please help!

How old is DS?

Stand your ground. Put the money aside and tell him he can either:

A) earn it back by doing jobs around the house
B) You can keep it in lieu of the money you've never ever had to put towards his upbringing.

He's 15. Sadly the dad is a kind of criminal type. We have no idea where he lives or how he earns money.

Just put it into a bank account in his name, and show him that's what you've done so he has some money for driving lessons or whatever. Then hide the pass book.

And get him to write a thank you note to his father telling him he's saving it for driving lessons- that'll wind him up!