Yahoo News Fraudster mum used fake passport and bank statement while in disguise at Metrocentre store
A fraudster mother who used a fake passport and bank statement while in disguise has been spared jail.
Marian Erb went into Currys into the Metrocentre in Gateshead and told staff she wanted to take out an iD mobile phone contract.
In an attempt to secure a Samsung Z flip phone worth £1,600, the 34-year-old produced a passport and a bank statement in the name of another woman and put down a £199 deposit.
Joe Hedworth, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court that when the contract was processed she asked to take out a second phone contract, this time with Vodaphone. He said the staff told her to return the next day, when the phones would be delivered to the store.
Mr Hedworth told the court: "It transpired that both of these transactions were fraudulent, they were forged. So the other for both phones was cancelled by Currys and the two deposits of £199 were returned."
Erb was interviewed and arrested the following day by a police officer. Mr Hedworth said the male officer had entered Hotel Chocolat and saw the defendant take off her coat.
He said: "She had a black wig with the coat next to her. She had been attempting to disguise her appearance."
Police seized a passport, a NatWest bank statement, a Currys invoice and two receipts from Erb, following the incident on April 4 last year.
The court in Newcastle heard how the victim's information had been used without her consent and she received two letters. In a victim impact statement, the woman said she was concerned about her credit score and what else her details have been used for.
Erb, of Herme Mews, North London, pleaded guilty to possession of an identity document with improper identification (false passport), possession of an article for use in fraud (false bank statement) and two counts of fraud.
Sue Hirst, defending, told the court that Erb had travelled from London to Newcastle to meet a man and her desperate financial situation had led her to commit the crime.
She said: "Quite frankly this lady does seem to be rather naïve and easily led.
"What actually doesn't come across in the report is that man involved is somebody she had been involved with through significant chat, really with a view to a potential relationship.
"It wasn’t a business transaction as such. She had agreed to come to Newcastle to meet him, having been in contact with him for some time before.
"He was aware that she was short of money and her instructions are that he said 'Well this is a way of making money' and she went along with it - clearly a rather ill-judged decision of how desperate she is financially.
"This was a woman in debt looking to try to make some quick money."
Ms Hirst told the court that Erb had a very difficult and traumatic childhood. She said she travelled from Sierra Leone to Italy to live with her aunt and her aunt then brought her to the UK.
She said Erb has a 17-year-old year daughter and well as twins who have just turned two years old. The court heard how one of the twins has a brain condition.
Ms Hirst said that she also had poor mobility. She added: "In terms of her physical mobility that had been improving until she had a fall a little while ago that’s caused problems with her knee."
Recorder Christopher Williams told Erb that she was facing "serious matters". He said: "Fraud costs everyone and it’s a real plague on everyone’s lives, with far-reaching effect.
"I accept you were vulnerable at the time and I accept you were taken advantage of."
Recorder Williams sentenced her to six months in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered her to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
She sobbed in the dock as she told him: "Thank you so much".
