A NEWLYWED fraudster told police he could not explain why he was using another man’s bank cards.
Michael James, 37, of Netherton Close, came clean to six counts of fraud by false representation when he was shown CCTV of him trying to take out £100 from an Asda ATM.
The cards were reported stolen from a work van parked outside its owners’ driveway. A wallet containing a driving licence, bank cards, other trade cards and £140 in cash had been taken.
Prosecuting, Pauline Lambert told magistrates: “[James] said yes, it was him in that [footage], but he did not steal the wallet. He had no explanation about how he’d come to be in possession of the cards.”
James pleaded guilty to six charges of fraud.
Sam Arif, defending, said her client had long been a functioning drug addict, but his addiction had spiralled after the death of his father in 2016.
The latest frauds, committed soon after he was given a community order by the courts, came around the anniversary of his father’s death.
“He ended up going to a pub he shouldn’t have gone to,” Ms Arif said. “He came across these cards and foolishly used them throughout the night.”
James had got married at the end of August and was working to get back on the straight and narrow, magistrates were told: “He has a young child and a second on the way.”He must pay £97.90 compensation and £85 costs.
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