A fraudster who stole money from a trusting Whitehaven neighbour which was left to him by his late parents has been given a suspended prison sentence.
In mid-2018 Ross Crellin, now aged 28, took over the account management of a man aged in his 60s who, Carlisle Crown Court heard, was not particularly adept at online banking.
But during a period between August 8 and October 30, Crellin instead stole a total of £8,372 by using the man’s details to make 46 separate fraudulent transactions.
This was done by transferring money from his victim’s savings to current accounts and then moving it into an unrelated one in the name of accomplice Robyn Ward, also 28.
“The savings account had been largely filled with money that had sentimental value,” said prosecutor Tim Evans. “Money that his parents had left him.”
After stolen money entered Ward’s account it was swiftly removed either through cash machine withdrawals or to pay for other items. Crellin, the “driving force”, had sought to buy mobile phones himself online with some of the loot — but was scammed himself in the process.
“Perhaps a degree of poetic justice in one respect,” said Mr Evans, “but no recompense or relief to the victim himself.”
On the day that man had challenged Crellin about missing money, in late October, 2018, Crellin had instructed Ward in an incriminating text message recovered by police to close her account.
Crellin, of no fixed address, admitted fraud while Ward, of Kensington Road, Morecambe, was convicted after a trial.
The court heard the fraud was Crellin’s first crime although he had gone on to commit others — including theft from employer — since then.
“You milked him for the best part of £8,000 in what was a shameless breach of trust,” Judge Michael Fanning told Crellin of his “inherent dishonesty” toward his former neighbour. “You were someone he trusted as a friend. Who on earth would want a friend like you?”
Aware of soaring prison inmate numbers and, concluding there was a prospect of rehabilitation, the judge suspended a nine-month jail term for 18 months. Crellin must complete rehabilitation work with the probation service.
*Ward was made subject to an 18-month community order comprising a rehabilitation requirement and 80 hours’ unpaid work.
