A FRAUDSTER who went on a spending spree using someone else’s bank card and handled a stolen laptop, a drone, and cat food has been spared jail.
Colin Houghton made a number of purchases – including at McDonald’s – on a bank card belonging to someone else.
And in a separate offence, Houghton, of Rolleston Street, Bewsey, stole nearly £150 of food from Lidl.
The 40-year-old appeared before Warrington Magistrates’ Court in September after pleading guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation, handling stolen goods, theft from a shop and common assault.
The first set of offences – including fraud by false representation and handling stolen goods – took place in September last year at various places across Warrington.
They consisted of Houghton making payments on a HSBC bank card that didn’t belong to him – at places including McDonald’s and a newsagents.
According to court documents, Houghton then attended a cash converters and ‘offered for sale stolen items’ – including a Play Station 4 controller, an x300C drone and a TomTom smart watch.
In handling these items, the charge of handling stolen goods was also formed however this also included various other items such as a bike lock, cat food and a laptop.
The second set of offences took place on September 2 this year and included Houghton stealing food items to the value of £145.71 from Lidl and assaulting a man.
Houghton was handed an 18-month community order and must complete up to 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He must also undergo drug rehabilitation for a period of six months.
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