Thief in spending spree after conning pensioner
A MAN went on a shopping spree with a stolen bank card after pretending to an elderly woman he was a council worker.
Liam McDonald was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court for stealing bank cards from a pensioner’s home after he and another man tricked their way in.
He then went on to spend £189 at the G-Star store at Braehead shopping centre.
The court heard that the 22-year-old knocked on the woman’s door in Temple, at around 5pm on the day of the incident.
When the woman answered the door, McDonald, along with his accomplice, said they were from Glasgow City Council and they were responding to a call made by a neighbour.
They said the neighbour had complained about a leak coming from the woman’s boiler and they were their to sort the problem.
The two said they had left their identification in the van and asked if they could come in.
The accused asked if the owner of the house had ladders and she left the living room to go and fetch them.
However, on her return with the set of ladders she was told they were no good. They left immediately after.
The woman then noticed that three banks cards had been stolen from the top drawer of her bedside cabinet.
Police investigating the case soon found that £189 had been spent at the G-Star store.
McDonald, of O’Neil Terrace, Alexandria, admitted that on January 24, 2014, he stole a quantity of bank cards from a woman who was 86-years-old at the time of the offence.
He also admitted that on the same day at the G-Star in the Braehead he obtained £189 worth of goods by fraud by pretending to an employer he was the lawful owner of one of the cards he had stolen.
His defending solicitor said his client was very aware of the seriousness of the issue and takes full responsibility.
It was added that McDonald was ashamed of his behaviour.
The sentencing sheriff ordered McDonald to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
He was also tagged for four months.