Thieves stole £6,000 from Halifax
Two opportunistic thieves stole more than £6,000 from the Halifax bank by going on a spending spree with a credit card which had been erroneously sent out by the bank.
The card arrived at the address of Kerren Auburn, aged 24, of Liberty Drive, Duston, who proceeded to amass a huge bill on illegal drugs and gambling, along with his co-worker Paul Michell.
Halifax had mistakenly sent the card to a former bank customer who had since closed his account and moved house.
Michell, aged 22 of Turners Court, Hardingstone, admitted stealing 868 from the bank while Auburn took 5,200.
The pair, both chefs at a TGI Friday restaurant in Northampton, escaped jail following a hearing at Northampton Magistrates' Court yesterday.
Andy Hopkinson, defending Auburn, said his client had effectively "had a breakdown" following the end of a relationship, which was fuelled by drug taking and gambling at casinos.
He said: "To this date he has failed to explain why he acted in the way that he did.
"He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and indeed he actually handed himself into police when it became clear the men were beings sought."
Claire Fitzpatrick, defending Michell, added: "He is very ashamed of what he has done, and is very sorry for it.
"He feels he has let down his family."
Both Michell and Auburn were handed 12 week prison sentences, suspended for 18 months.
They will have to complete 18-month supervision orders and 200 hours of unpaid work each.
Both will have to pay back the money they stole as well as court costs amounting to a total of 75.
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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