Barclays fraud advisor given jail warning after taking £6k from customer's account to cover gambling debt

Barry Nicholson, 51, set up a direct debit from his victim’s account to his to take the cash in three equal amounts.

Nicholson, of Willow Dene, East Rainton, who tried to take another £4,000, initially told detectives he was not behind the crimes.

Despite his financial skills, magistrates in South Tyneside heard his scam was not sophisticated and had quickly unravelled.

Nicholson pleaded guilty to five fraud charges and was warned he could be put behind bars when sentenced in November.

Prosecutor Gurjot Kaur said: “This is effectively fraud by abuse of position.

“He was employed by Barclays bank, ironically working as a customer service fraud advisor.

“He took £6,000 and made two attempts of another £2,000 each, which are failed attempts.

“He set up a weekly direct debit from her account to his.

“The complainant reported the matter to the bank in January 2021. It wasn’t a sophisticated fraud, due to the audit trail.

“There were also two attempts which were rejected due to insufficient funds. The defendant wasn’t interviewed until May 2022.

“He says he did this because of a gambling debt. He initially denied the offences. The bank has returned the money.

“The starting point is 18 months custody, with a range of 26 weeks to three years.”

Nicholson pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and two of attempted fraud, all by abuse of position, in East Rainton, between November 18 and December 16, 2020.

The court heard he has no previous convictions but received a caution in 2002 for forging a document.

Heather Bolton, defending, said: “Mr Nicholson pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. He made admissions in his first interview.

“I do ask you to consider a pre-sentence report to be made available. He did say that he would repay the money, but the bank refused the offer.”

Magistrates declined jurisdiction and committed Nicholson to be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday, November 7.

They ordered a pre-sentence report and granted him unconditional bail.