'Reformed' Wolverhampton criminal back in jail after using stolen cards

Richard Owen went straight for six years after finding a job with a waste management company, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Then the 38-year-old was captured on CCTV using credit and debit cards stolen during two burglaries committed in as many days in March last year, revealed Mr Edward Soulsby, prosecuting.

The burglar was ‘lurking’ in the background when the fraudulent transactions took place – on one occasion just eight minutes after the break-in.

A credit and debit card were among the haul taken from an address in Northolt Drive, Ettinghsall during the early hours of March 17.

They were used to buy around £70 worth of goods in three transactions just hours later.

A credit card stolen during an overnight break-in at a property in nearby Stow Heath Lane two days later was used in a £25 transaction at a supermarket eight minutes after the occupant heard the burglar leaving her home, continued Mr Soulsby.

A second man was convicted of the two burglaries and jailed for four years following a trial after which the jury acquitted Owen of those offences.

He pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of the credit and debit cards.

Mr Antonie Muller, defending, said: “He had been a prolific offender but stopped in 2010.

“That was because he got a job. He has now lost that work along with his home and his partner.

“His secure life has fallen apart and he has gone back on drugs.

“His drug abuse was rehabilitated by employment and after, losing that job, he has returned to taking heroin.

“He understands that he has fallen off the waggon quite heavily.”

Owen, of Ward Street, Ettingshall, admitted three charges of fraud and was jailed for six months by Judge Barry Berlin who told him: “You have several previous convictions that include offences of dishonesty and violence committed before you kept out of trouble for a number of years. Then you chose to commit more crime.”