Girlfriends’ details used fraudulently to fund bets

THREE VICTIMS WERE UNAWARE

A GAMBLING addict secretly used his girlfriends’ personal details to obtain cash loans to pay for his bets, a court heard.

Jamie O’Sullivan, pictured, opened bank and shopping accounts and applied for loans in the names of women he was going out with at different times over two years from 2017. He also used their phones to authorise payments to betting accounts, a court heard.

O’Sullivan, 35, of Abbots Drive, Stoney Stanton, appeared at Gloucester Crown Court to plead guilty to eight counts of fraud by false representation.

Prosecutor Matt Jackson said O’Sullivan had applied for approximately £5,000 in loans by using the women’s details and did not tell them what he was up to.

Mr Jackson said: “O’Sullivan didn’t initially enter into these relationships to commit the various frauds, but they were a happy coincidence from his perspective.

“He attempts to conceal his fraudulent activity in all three cases by keeping the evidence away from his victims.”

O’Sullivan’s first victim lived in Leicester. He used her details in 2017 to open a U Bank account and a Halifax account and then applied for a loan in her name, said the prosecutor.

By March 2018, O’Sullivan was going out with a second woman, who was living in Gloucester. He used her phone SIM card to authorise payments of £180 to a betting account, Mr Jackson said.

“During 2018 O’Sullivan continued conducting his fraudulent activity over a sustained period of time with his third victim, who states she suffered a significant psychological impact from his offending,” Mr Jackson said.

The first victim did not suffer any financial loss as the fraudulent transactions in her name were declined. However, the second woman is owed £180 and the third victim £120.

Sarah Jenkins, defending, said: “He has sought help from organisations including Gambling Anonymous. This has shown that there is a prospect of rehabilitation.”

The judge, Recorder Richard Stead, told O’Sullivan: “This is an unpleasant case. It may well be the value of the loss is not significant, but you took advantage of the women.

“You were bullying and abusive towards them, but I only sentence you on the fraud charges.

“These monetary offences simply amplify your other offending and demonstrate your disrespect for women with whom you have relationships.

“Only a prison sentence of 23 months is justified, but I feel that I can suspend it for two years.”

The judge also ordered that O’Sullivan attend 15 rehabilitation days and to pay compensation of £180 to his second victim and £620 to the third.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £445 and a victim surcharge of £140. The judge imposed a five-year restraining order banning him from making any contact with the Leicester woman.