Man stole £50,000 to fund drugs habit

Man stole £50,000 to fund drugs habit

30 October 2013

A DOWNPATRICK farm labourer stole almost £50,000 from a neighbour to feed his drug habit, a Crown Court has been told.

Twenty three year-old Sean Kelly stole 10 cheques from 57 year-old farmer James McKeating over an 11 month period which netted him £49,211.

At Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday, Kelly, of Glebe Road, admitted 10 counts of fraud. He will be sentenced in December.

A prosecution barrister explained that Kelly’s offending began on December 13, 2011, when he stole a cheque from Mr. McKeating’s cheque book and made it out to himself for a sum of money.

He explained that Kelly knew his victim well and knew he kept his cheque book in the kitchen. He stole another nine cheques.

“There was no real sophistication and it is a very large sum over a considerable period of time,” said the barrister.

“There was a good working relationship between them and Mr. McKeating has taken a charitable and forgiving attitude to Sean Kelly,” he said.

A detective explained the fraud was discovered when Mr. McKeating queried a cheque and was told to contact the police. It was then discovered there were a number of other cheques.

Suspicion fell on Kelly after cheques were found made out to himself and Annette Kelly, explained the detective.

He sad the bank has deferred the loss because as there had been no check on the signatures.

A defence barrister said Kelly’s trouble came from taking drugs and owing money to drug dealers.

“He has never had any material trappings, owned property or put money anywhere except providing for himself,” the barrister said.

“This young man has demonstrated he continues to abstain from drugs, visits his GP and knows the importance of this,” he said.

Deferring sentencing Judge David Smyth said Kelly’s rehabilitation was in the public interest.

Kelly was released on continuing bail before he returns to Downpatrick Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, December 13.