A ONE-MAN crime wave who fraudulently splashed £1,100 in Newport shops with his girlfriend in under an hour using a bank card taken from a student has been spared jail.
Kyle Johnson, 27, went on the "shopping spree" the day after his partner Siobhan Webb got the card and pin number off a "drunken student", a court heard.
The drug addict and his girlfriend went from store to store in Newport City Centre, buying clothes, shoes and a PS4 console, Cardiff Crown Court was told yesterday.
Johnson, of Monnow Way, Bettws, already had 60 offences on his record including theft, robbery and burglary, prosecutor David Pinnell said.
He had previously been given prison terms for offences including shoplifting and thefts from vehicles, the court was told.
Johnson pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud.
Webb, also of Monnow Way, was jailed after being sentenced for theft, fraud and an unrelated affray, last month.
Cardiff Judge Craven told the court that Johnson's offences could attract a jail term of between five and 26 weeks.
But he said he did not "consider the need to pass any kind of custodial sentence" after hearing Johnson wished to address his drug problem and had already served the equivalent of about 70 days under a tagged curfew.
Instead, he gave him a 12-month supervision order including 80 hours unpaid work and ordered him to complete a nine-month drug rehabilitation course.
Recorder Craven said: "You know you have a serious drug problem.
"This is why you have agreed to cooperate.
"I hope it will help you for your and the public's sake."
The student, called Jarrad Howells, lost a total of £1,107 on November 1 last year.
His bank refused to refund him because he had given Webb his pin number while he was intoxicated, the court heard.
He got back £200 through the Proceeds of Crime Act at an earlier hearing.
Timothy Evans, for the defence, said the couple had committed the fraud because of drugs.
Mr Evans added that Johnson had referred himself to a drug intervention programme in December last year.
He told the court: "Both are doing this frankly to buy drugs, to put it into their mouths and blood systems.
"He is trying to rid himself of his addiction."
Judge Craven also ordered Johnson to pay a £60 surcharge.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel