PREMIUM
A man with several fraud convictions used a stolen debit card to buy takeaways from a kebab house.
Christopher Bygrave, of Durham Hill, Dover, also took £83 worth of items off the shelves at a Co-op in Ramsgate and left without paying.
The 26-year-old, who used to live in Thanet, appeared at Margate Magistrates Court on June 25, where he admitted shoplifting and two counts of fraud by false representation.
Lucie Fish, prosecuting, said: “On May 3, he went into the Co-op in Grange Road, Ramsgate, and selected £83 worth of items and left without making any attempt to pay.
“The other offences happened on May 16 and 18 when he used a stolen debit card at the M&M Kebab House in High Street, Ramsgate.”
It is not known if Bygrave was involved in the theft of the card. Its rightful owner was reimbursed by his bank for the transactions.
Magistrates were told Bygrave has previous convictions for fraud – in 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Paul Shingleton, defending, said his client should be given credit for his early guilty pleas.
The court heard that during a recent stint in jail for separate dishonesty offences, Bygrave had obtained a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card and taken three courses.
He had also secured a new job since leaving prison.
Mr Shingleton added: “He’s been a carpenter in the past and was very good at it.
“I have dealt with him so many times, but this is the first time I remember him engaging in courses (in prison).
“He’s now steering away from the drug culture and Thanet, so I would urge you to give him a non-custodial sentence.”
Magistrates placed Bygrave on a 12-month conditional discharge, but ordered him to pay £83 back to the Co-op for the goods he stole.
