New Romney man Andrew Fender jailed for wallet theft lie
by Sam Lennon
A man who falsely claimed to police his
wallet had been stolen has been jailed for sixth
months.
Andrew Fender, of Baldwin Road, New Romney, claimed the wallet
had contained his bank card and PIN number.
But it was actually still with him and he had emptied his own
bank account, Canterbury Crown Court heard.
Fender, 29, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of
justice.
Judge Adele Williams told him: "Perverting the course of justice
attacks the whole criminal justice system. It cannot be dealt with
in any other way than immediate custodial sentence."
Edmund Burge, prosecuting, told how on March 1 Fender had
reported to his local police station his wallet had been
stolen after a road accident.
"He is suggestable and likely to be easily persuaded by others..." – Ben Holt, defending
But instead, Mr Burge said, he still had the wallet and
card. Around February 20, he used a friend and neighbour's
computer and mobile phone to make three online applications for
loans from payday companies.
The total sum of £640.50 was legitimately paid into his own bank
account and on March 1 he emptied that account and went to police
to claim his wallet was stolen.
A witness statement was taken from him by police and inquiries
were also made to loan companies.
The neighbour, who also approached by police, said he had let
Fender use his computer and mobile phone - but had no part in
obtaining the money or making the false report.
Fender's previous conviction in February 2010 was for house
burglary for which he was given a community order with 250 hours'
unpaid work.
The court received a pre-sentence psychological report and Ben
Holt, for Fender, said his client had acted out of
"desperation and naivety".
Andrew Fender was jailed
at Canterbury Crown Court
Mr Holt said it was others who had talked Fender into carrying
out the deception.
He said: "He is suggestable and likely to be easily
persuaded by others. It was him who went to the police station to
make the false report.
"But he was not the brains behind it. With respect to him he
doesn't have the necessary intellect to carry out such a rather
sophisticated plan."
Mr Holt said Fender had been severely bullied at school, which
affected his enjoyment and attendance there and he only left with
five GCSEs.
He said Fender had worked for nine years as a carer for the
elderly, but this conviction now ended that line of employment.
Mr Holt asked the judge for a suspended prison sentence, saying:
"There are severe vulnerability issues if he goes to prison."
18/12/12
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