A woman has admitted using her dead neighbour’s bank card on a huge £14,000 shopping spree.
Rachel Plant had been given permission to use the card by the late Phillip Middleton. She had previously used the card to shop for Middleton, as well as make occasional purchases for herself.
However, upon Middleton’s death, police told Plant she needed to stop using it and they would be collecting it the next day.
Instead, the woman went on a rampant shopping spree where she purchased a TV, a PlayStation 5, multiple iPhones, and other appliances from Curry’s.
Rachel Plant has admitted to using her dead neighbour’s bank card on a huge £14,000 shopping spree
During the huge shopping spree in September 2023, she also made large cash withdrawals before she lost access to the card.
She also told her son to buy foreign currency on the card, which she would later convert into pounds.
However, following Middleton’s death, the money in the account now belonged to his estate, rather than Middleton himself.
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Therefore, the purchases made during the spree in September became the subject of a theft investigation.
Plant admitted to the offence, and said she gave £2,000 to a shop owned by her partner.
Judge Daniel Prowse, sentencing at Burnley Crown Court, said: “This offence flows from your friendship with Mr Middleton, who gave you authority to use his bank account.
“The police told you to cease use of the card, the money then being a subject of his estate and not his property because he died.
During the huge shopping spree in September 2023, she also made large cash withdrawals before she lost access to the card, Burnley Crown Court heard
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“You continued to use the card and went on a spending spree. By your plea you accept the money was not yours and continued to use the card.”
She was given an 18-month community order and now must attend a Building Changes programme. She also must complete 20 rehabilitation activity days.
Plant had 12 previous convictions for 15 offences, including theft, public order, criminal damage, harassment, and shoplifting.