Cleaner’s card fraud bingo spend
A cleaner used a customer’s bank cards to spend more than £2,000 on online bingo before giving the details to a friend who blew more than £5,000, a court heard.
Kathleen Slater and Donna Walton admitted defrauding John Allen of £7,879 when they appeared at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court.
Slater, 40, of Wheeler Street, Maidstone, worked as a cleaner for Mr Allen. She used his credit card to spend £2,109 on Tombola and Rocket bingo before passing details to Walton, 51, who began playing and spending.
John Roberts, for Slater, said she had only logged on to play once or twice but “got carried away” and was extremely remorseful.
She had a nine-year-old daughter to care for and only gave card details to Walton because she knew her friend was in financial difficulties.
Slater, who is unemployed, quit using cocaine at Christmas, the court heard.
Toby Burroughs, defending Walton, of Quarry Road, Maidstone, said she had been at a low ebb and had used alcohol and drugs after the death of her boyfriend in 2014.
She was also caring for three children under 18 and was heavily in debt.
Magistrates considered Slater’s offence was compounded by her breach of Mr Allen’s trust and jailed her for 84 days, suspended for 18 months.
She was told to pay Mr Allen £1,000 compensation, plus £85 costs. She must also attend 30 rehabilitation days.
Magistrates jailed Walton for 56 days, suspended for 12 months, with the same compensation and costs. She will complete 20 rehabilitation activity days.