Man used stolen bank card for spree

A 23-year-old man spent more than £750 of a pensioner's money after discovering her stolen bank card and pin number abandoned in a Telford alleyway.

Robert Weaver visited five shops and garages and used Patricia Jones's card to pay for alcohol and other items, Telford magistrates heard yesterday.

Weaver, of Lancaster Ave- nue, Dawley, admitted stealing the TSB card on January 11 and six offences of fraudulently using the card at the Greyhound Stores in Ketley, Tates of Shawbirch, Texaco, Wellington, and the Shell garage, Stirchley.

He asked for nine similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Weaver was made the subject of a 12-month community order and ordered to attend a general offending behaviour programme.

He was further ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work and to pay compensation of £762 and costs £60.

Prosecutor John Barnett said the card stolen during a raid on Mrs Jones's home.

The 71-year-old reported the card stolen but it later emerged it had been used to gain £762.53 of goods and cash on January 11.

CCTV footage from some of the shops where the card was used identified Weaver as the man using the card.

Weaver admitted in interview he found the card with the pin number taped to the back in a Ketley Bank alley.

"He did not know it had been stolen but admitted making no attempt to hand it in," said Mr Barnett.

Shakeel Ahmed, for Weaver, said: "He made full and frank admissions to the police."