Son who fraudulently obtained Â£27,000 by setting up credit cards in his father's name avoids jail

A Northamptonshire man who racked up debts of Â£27,000 after he set up four credit cards in his father's name without his knowledge has been given a suspended jail sentence.

By The Newsroom

Published 3rd Jun 2016, 05:25 BST

Gregory Cole, of Shearwater Lane, Wellingborough, obtained credit from Tesco bank MBNA, Barclaycard and Lloyds after he used his father’s personal details.

Northampton Crown Court heard the father-of-four kept it a secret from his father by intercepting his post containing the credit card statements.

In total Cole fraudulently obtained, £27,144 during a period from May 2013 to November 2015.

Rebecca Penfold, mitigating, said Cole was unable to work due to a health condition and was struggling to support his family on benefit payments.

Ms Penfold said Cole’s offending had increased after he suffered the trauma of his wife having a stillbirth last year.

His honour Judge Timothy Smith said Cole’s behaviour was a “mistake that got out of control that was ill-conceived and ill-judged”.

He sentenced Cole to 12 months in prison, suspended for a year. He must also complete a 20-day rehabilitation requirement.