Football hooligan withdrew almost £15k on stolen bank card

Dylan Whitty swiped the card from the room of a fellow guest staying at a hotel in Birchwood.

He then travelled down south and used the card to help himself to his victim’s hard-earned money by making large withdrawals from his bank account.

But he was caught after he was recognised on CCTV footage by police specialising in football hooliganism who had dealings with him in the past.

The 36-year-old appeared for sentence at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to charges of theft and fraud by false representation.

Graham Pickervance, prosecuting, explained to the court how the victim checked into Pentahotel Warrington in Birchwood on August 7, 2018, took his belongings to his room and left them there while he went for dinner.

In the days following, his bank contacted him regarding suspicious activity regarding his account, which led to him discovering that his bank card, driving licence and cheque book was missing.

He also discovered that on five occasions on August 12, money had been withdrawn from his account over the counter at bank branches in Basingstoke to the total value of £14,850.

The perpetrator had also used the card’s contactless function to buy goods to the value of £22 in Eastleigh.

CCTV was recovered and showed the defendant using the card. He was later identified by police officers specialising in football hooliganism who recognised the huge Coventry City fan through previous dealings with him.

Enquiries were carried out and it was discovered that Whitty had entered the victim’s room at the Birchwood hotel using an old pass card issued to a member of staff which was due to be wiped.

Mr Pickervance detailed the defendant’s range of previous convictions to the court, which ‘stretch back some time’.

They include football banning orders, threatening behaviour, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and breaching court orders.

The bank card was stolen from a hotel room at Pentahotel Warrington in Birchwood (Image: Google Maps)

He was also previously jailed for fraud offences, with his most notable past conviction being a four-year prison sentence in September 2015 for assisting an offender, having helped to dispose of a car used in the murder of Coventry mum Hayley Pointon in February 2013.

In his defence, Jonathan Duffy made reference to letters from his former partner, with whom he shares a disabled child, his mother, his employer and a letter from himself to the court.

He said: “This is a man who has a significant criminal past, but I emphasise the word past.

“His previous fraud and dishonesty offences were committed a decade ago, and it is eight years since his last criminal offending.

“It is three and a half years since this offending, and during that time he is a man who has made significant progress – he has lost 10 stone in weight, and if you look at the CCTV from the bank, he is a completely different character physically.

“This is all as a result of him adopting a healthy lifestyle, giving up drugs and cutting down drinking. The defendant’s only priority today is to continue his role within his family.”

Before sentencing, recorder Michael Blakey said: “Since these offences, there has not been any further offending and you have demonstrated that you can behave yourself.

“Clearly, I hope you have grown out of your offending behaviour. The probation service believes you can be rehabilitated.

“Bringing all matters into account, these offences are so serious that they cross the custody threshold, but I am not minded to send you to prison today.”

Whitty, of Briars Close in Coventry, was sentenced to 16 months in prison suspended for two years.

He must also complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay a victim surcharge.

After handing down his sentence, recorder Blakey added: “I am giving you an opportunity here.

“If in the next two years you do not commit any other offences, you will hear no more of this. If you do, it is likely you will go to prison.”