Criminal with 120 offences on his record breaks three-year crime free streak by using stolen bank card

Lacey Robson, 46, of Toward Road, in Sunderland city centre, pocketed the plastic and headed to a shop in the city - and bought £29.20 of goods.

But the former drug-user was caught out and hauled into court, breaking a three-year streak of being crime free.

Magistrates in South Tyneside heard Robson had not been involved in the theft from the vehicle in Sunderland on Sunday, February 21.

But he had dishonestly picked up the card which had been discarded and used it the next day to plunder from the owner’s bank account.

Prosecutor Ansab Shan said: “The victim provides a statement that his motor vehicle had been broken into.

“There is no suggestion that the defendant was involved in that.

“A number of items were taken during the break in to the vehicle, including the bank card.

“The bank card was subsequently used on one occasion, to the value of £29.20.

“The defendant was subsequently arrested, and he said that he had used the card and that he had found it in the road.

“He said he had only used it once and had then discarded it.

“He has 120 offences, but nothing similar though there are 76 matters of dishonesty. He was last in court in March 2018 for theft.”

Heather Bolton, defending, said: “Mr Robson says that he found the card and took a chance.

“He used it on one occasion. When he left the store, he discarded the card.

“Mr Robson has been before the courts on regular occasions, that was when he had a substance addiction.

“It is some time since he has been before the courts. He met a partner, he has been law abiding.”

Robson, who pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, was ordered to pay £29.20 compensation to the card’s owner, and £85 court costs.

The court heard Robson owes almost £1,700 in past fines and costs and was struggling to pay his debt, a factor in his latest crime.

Magistrates agreed to reduce his monthly repayment from £93 to £35.

There was no victim surcharge.