A fraudster stole a chequebook from a vulnerable elderly woman living nearby to pay for thousands of pounds of goods.
Heavily pregnant Laurieann Curry forged her victim’s signature on 10 separate cheques and attempted to fraudulently buy £7,052 of items.
But she was caught out when one retailer became suspicious and alerted police.
Curry yesterday appeared before Teesside magistrates for sentencing after previously admitting two counts of fraud and one count of theft.
The mum-of-two was told that she had come close to being locked up.
But the 30-year-old walked free after being given two six month jail terms, suspended for 24 months.
The earlier hearing was told Curry, of Richmond Court, Grangetown, stole a chequebook from the home of the 77-year-old neighbour dementia sufferer.
The victim received help from social services and was considered vulnerable.
Sarah Traynor, prosecuting, told the court that Curry had visited the victim at his home on a weekly basis.
One day last year she spotted a chequebook on a table and took it before using the cheques to buy goods from the various online retailers.
The court heard that although many of the cheques had bounced, Curry had still racked up £2,248 worth of purchases in the victim’s name.
It was on November 28 last year that police were first alerted to possible fraud by online retailer Shop Direct after the company received an order in the victim’s name that did not appear to be genuine.
Among the items ordered were an Xbox and a PlayStation Vita games console, various video games including Grand Theft Auto and a quantity of children’s clothing.
Curry was arrested at her partner’s address and the victim’s chequebook was recovered.
She fully admitted her guilt at the first opportunity and said that she had used the money mainly to provide clothing for her five-year-old daughter.
Mrs Traynor told the court that Curry, who had described her vulnerable neighbour as “lovely” during a police interview, had “showed little remorse towards her victim” and that she had admitted to being selfish in her crimes.
Defending Curry, Larry Regan said: “I’ve read the report from the CPS. It is accepted except for the comment about the remorse.
“She has admitted to being selfish in her actions and she has expressed remorse to the victim.”
Mitigating, Mr Regan added: “She has a five-year-old child who lives with her and is due to give birth to her third child.
“This was very much out of character. She felt disgusted with herself.
“She has made a grave error.”
Chairman of the bench, Michael Poole, sentenced Curry to a separate six-month sentence for each of the charges against her.
The sentences were set to run concurrently and were suspended for 24 months.
No victim surcharge was added and because the money had already been refunded to the victim by his bank, Curry was ordered to pay back £2,248 to the bank at £5 per week from her benefits.
Turning to Curry, chairman of the bench Michael Poole said: “Do you understand what has happened here today?
"You’ve come very close to coming into custody this afternoon.
“It’s only because of your circumstances that you have avoided prison.”
Curry nodded and replied: “I’m deeply sorry as well.”
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