Hungry father used bank card he found to buy food

Hungry young father Robbie Smith found a bank card in a field in Ashford and used it to buy scratch cards, food and tobacco.

But he denied burgling a house and stealing it, along with a laptop, iPhone, other bank cards and handbags, Canterbury Crown Court was told.

Smith, 22, of Fairview Drive, Ashford, said he went for a walk at 5am on July 21 to clear his head, found the bank card and used it at a nearby BP garage and Tesco.

He told the jury that he had previous convictions for burglary but had not burgled a house in Millstream Green, Ashford, in July and taken property.

“I did not do this burglary,” he said. “If I had I would have admitted it in my police interview. I admitted using the card because I did but I found it in a field.”

He was cleared of the burglary and also of receiving a stolen Halifax bank card which he had also denied.

Recorder Rupert Lowe sentenced Smith to one month in prison on each of the three fraud charges which he had already admitted. Because of time served in custody he was released.

Alec Williams, prosecuting, said the owner of the property went to bed and when she woke the following morning found she had been burgled and two handbags, a laptop, iPhone and credit cards were missing.

Her empty bags were found dumped close to her home by a neighbour. One of her bank cards was used at a BP garage about two miles away at 5.30am and again at a Tesco’s at 6.05am and again 10 minutes later.

Mr Williams said Smith had used the cards. He was arrested soon afterwards and admitted the offence.

He told police he was out walking, found the card and because he was short of money he used it but did not go into the house.

“We say that is a fabrication because of the closeness of the time and proximity,” Mr Williams said. “The only logical conclusion is that he had that card because he was the person who took it from the property.”

Smith told the jury that he was depressed, had no money, was hungry and needed cash for his baby. He had sold his phone to raise money. Picking up the card was a “stupid mistake,” he said.

‘I did not do this burglary. If I had I would have admitted it in my police interview’