A cruel crook used a dementia-sufferer's bank card without her permission to buy booze and cigarettes.
Matthew Carlyon attempted to carry out at least five transactions on the cash card within 12 hours. Some transactions were successful and he spent spending nearly £100. Fortunately, the despicable 26-year-old's deceit was quickly uncovered when the victim's carer noticed her card was missing from her County Durham home and contacted the bank, a court heard.
It was confirmed that a number of transactions had recently been made in Asda and other stores and the police were called. Officers were able to view CCTV footage from the shops and easily identified Carlyon, who has a number of offences on his criminal record.
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Carlyon, of Abbey Court, in Gateshead, was due to appear before magistrates in Peterlee last month but he failed to attend and was convicted of five counts of fraud. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was finally detained and appeared in custody at Newcastle Magistrates' Court for sentence.
During the hearing, Carlyon also admitted failing to comply with post-sentence supervision by not attending three Probation appointments and failing to surrender to Peterlee Magistrates' Court.
Kingsley Njoku, prosecuting, said the victim's carer attended her home in Stanley on October 13 2021 and noticed her bank card was missing. The bank was contacted and the police were called after they confirmed the card had been used a number of times in the last 12 hours.
Mr Njoku added: "The defendant is identified from CCTV footage. The defendant used the victim's card on several occasions without her permission. On October 12 at 18.59, he spent £40.98 on alcohol and cigarettes. At Asda he spent £44.59 and, one minute later, he spent 20p on the card. On October 13, again at Asda, he spent £9.50. A further transaction was declined."
The court heard that Carlyon was arrested but made no comment in interview. Vic Laffey, defending, said 15 months had no passed since the fraud offences. He added: "The card came to the defendant second or third hand - he was not the person who was in the victim's house or took it from this unfortunate lady. It was passed on to him and he used it successfully on a couple of occasions and unsuccessfully on a couple of occasions."
District Judge Kate Meek gave Carlyon a 13-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He was also fined £50 and must pay £250 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.
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