A GREENOCK man has been fined and ordered to pay compensation after using a bank card he ‘found’ to order a takeaway to his own home in what has been described by his lawyer as an act of ‘staggering stupidity’.
John Gamble, 38, pleaded guilty to using the card fraudulently to obtain a large quantity of food and drink from a fast food outlet and have it delivered to his front door on Tasker Street.
The sheriff court heard that the owner of the card believed it was on his person whilst in Greenock town centre on the day the offence was committed.
However, he received a message from his bank at around 4:45pm stating that it had been used to place a Clyde Eats order worth £65.15, a sentencing hearing was told.
Prosecutor Ashley Pollock said: “He knew it was not him who made the purchase and he contacted his bank to block the card as he believed he was a victim of fraud.”
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Fiscal depute Ms Pollock told Sheriff Morag Fraser that the delivery driver recognised Gamble’s property from previous orders and noted that it was unusual for him to pay online rather than in cash.
Checks were carried out and Gamble was later arrested on suspicion of fraud.
Defence solicitor Aidan Gallagher said: “It’s almost staggering the stupidity here.
“He finds the card, places an order in his own name and has it delivered to his own house.”
Sheriff Fraser fined Gamble a total of £120, reduced from £180 due to his early plea, to be paid within 28 days.
She also ordered him to compensate the owner of the card for the full value of the order.
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