Bank Fraud Loot Blown At Casino

A gambler thought his luck had changed when proceeds from a £1 million bank fraud suddenly dropped into his account, blowing the lot at the casino before police closed in, a court heard.

Jobless Hamid Arif, 25, of Copster Hill Road, Oldham withdrew £17,700 cash in just two days following the windfall, which he later admitted was too good to be true.

He pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court (pictured) to unlawfully retaining a false credit, contrary to the Theft Act, and received a twelve-month community order, including twenty sessions with the ‘Thinking Skills’ programme.

Prosecutor Miss Mia Wellfare told the court the Royal Bank of Scotland were victim’s of an elaborate £1 million shares fraud last year and on September 4 were tricked into transferring £290,000.

Two £48,000 cheques from that transfer were paid into Arif’s account on September 10 and on September 17 the defendant withdrew £2,700 and £15,000 the next day.

The Royal Bank of Scotland’s internal fraud department froze the account, scuppering Arif’s further attempts to withdraw cash and he was arrested in Oldham on December 7.

“He said the cheques arrived in the post and he thought he had been very lucky,” explained Miss Wellfare. “He told police he filled-in a claim form for a man in the street after a minor accident in 2007 and thought it may be a result of that.

“He later admitted he knew the sums could not have come from a minor accident and accepted he should not have paid them into his account and spend the proceeds at the casino.”

Arif, who has convictions for dishonesty, including theft from employer, pleaded not guilty to the more serious charge of theft, which the prosecution accepted.

He claims he has turned over a new leaf since the birth of his daughter in January.

“While you were traveling down here from Oldham you probably assumed you would be going to prison and so would someone listening to these proceedings,” Recorder Jonathan Davies told Arif.

“I am sentencing you for not reporting the fact this money magically appeared in your bank account.

“I am glad I am not sending you to prison because you are the type of person on the cusp of spending the rest of your life in and out of prison, which is pretty ghastly.”

Recorder Davies ordered the £500 cash seized by police when Arif was arrested should be confiscated.

“Go back to Oldham, a horrible journey again.”