Welsh name a trap for tongue-tied fraudster
ATONGUE-TIED fraudster who stole a woman’s bank card came unstuck – when she tripped over the pronunciation of her victim’s Welsh name.
Nigerian Chinyere Oparaocha, 49, tried to open a Debenhams account in the name of a woman named Siwan – but staff became suspicious when she could not pronounce the name she claimed was hers.
Oparaocha tried to convince staff at the Cardiff store she was called Siwan. Police were called and uncovered a theft and fraud spree of around £2,000, Plymouth Crown Court heard.
She was released on bail but later travelled to Plymouth and tried to repeat the trick, but Debenhams staff were on the case with information supplied by colleagues.
Prosecutor Emily Cook said the defendant stole her victim’s purse in McDonald’s in Cardiff, and then used the card and personal details to try to open an account in Debenhams with the purchase of a £50 dress. Oparaocha had also taken two bottles of perfume as a member of staff turned away to get her a gift.
But security officers were already en route, alerted to the fact the woman could not apparently pronounce her own name.
Miss Cook said police found receipts showing Oparaocha had used the card to obtain two iPads, a phone and another tablet from Vodafone. She also got two more phones from EE in a spree which amounted to almost £1,500.
Miss Cook said Oparaocha was arrested and released on bail. She turned up in Plymouth and tried to open another Debenhams account, but this time staff were alerted through their own security system.
Oparaocha, of Enfield, London, pleaded guilty to the theft of the woman’s purse and bank cards in Cardiff. She admitted fraudulently setting up a store account and three other frauds at other shops using the card in the capital.
She also stole two bottles of perfume from Debenhams in Cardiff on August 13. She admitted fraud relating to an incident in the Plymouth Debenhams on September 3.
Oparaocha, representing herself, said: “I am very sorry.”
Judge James Townsend gave her a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 80 hours’ unpaid work. She must also complete the probation service’s rehabilitation activity requirement and a thinking skills course.