A Croydon fraudster hijacked
another woman's identity and walked into a bank where she tried to
have £385,000 transferred to buy a new house.Linda Carrington, 65, of Boston Road, failed because of problems with the signature and was arrested four days later when she returned to the same branch to cash a £5,000 cheque.
She pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to two counts of fraud by false representation at HSBC King's Road, Chelsea on May 29 and June 2, last year and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for twelve months.
Prosecutor Miss Roxana Nasser told the court the victim, Mary Walsh, had her passport, driving licence, two phones and other items stolen on the Eurostar when she was travelling to Paris.
Carrington entered the HSBC branch just before closing time on a Friday with the licence and a joint account statement requesting £385,000 be transferred to Mitchell Home for a new property.
The bank were unhappy with the signature given and contacted Mary Walsh's husband the next day and discovered the fraud.
Carrington returned with the stolen licence on June 2 and tried to cash a £5,000 cheque on the account, but bank staff were ready and called the police.
“It's not me. There's a man outside sitting in a BMW from Biggin Hill in Kent who made me do it,” she told officers.
“She said she was pressurised and threatened by a man known as Elijah,” explained Miss Nasser.
Judge Robin Johnson told Carrington: “It's a shame to see someone of your age in the dock and it is a serious matter.
“The fraud was to try and draw money on this large transfer.”
Carrington was also ordered to complete a thirty-day rehabilitation programme.
No comments:
Post a Comment