Man cashed in his uncle's giro

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Ma ... 5516851.jp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A FRAUDSTER stole his uncle's giro cheque in a bid to claw back money he claimed he was owed.

Edward Keenan intercepted a letter addressed to his uncle containing a giro cheque to the value of £128 which he signed as a relative who had been given authority to cash it in.

He then went to the Post Office and pocketed the cash.

But the 23-year-old's dishonest actions landed him before Hartlepool Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to theft and fraud by dishonestly making a false representation, both on April 22 this year.

Zeenat Begum, prosecuting, said Keenan was at Argyll Road, Hartlepool, when he took an envelope from the postman in the name of Robert Tobin, his uncle.

She said he opened the envelope which contained a giro to the value of £128.60.

Miss Begum said: "That same day the defendant went to Owton Manor Lane Post Office and presented the cheque to a worker."

She said Keenan, of Catcote Road, Hartlepool, was handed the cash by the worker who had seen him before but did know his name.

But after he left, the giro was examined by another worker who knew Mr Tobin and the police were called.

Miss Begum said: "Mr Tobin provided a statement saying he did not give this defendant permission to cash his giro."

The court heard that Keenan, who was convicted in June of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was later interviewed and said his uncle owed him £120 and he had been at his grandfather's house, where the giro is delivered, when he took it.

Miss Begum added Keenan claimed they "always lent each other money" but admitted the offence.
The court heard he kept half and gave the other half back to his uncle.

Neil Taylor, mitigating, said Keenan's uncle was going to re-pay the money when he got his benefits, but Keenan "jumped the gun a bit".

Mr Taylor called it an "unsophisticated offence" and said Keenan was "always going to get caught".

He said: "Irrespective of your civil rights on the money, you can't take it into your own hands."

For the theft Keenan was fined £65 and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £60 court costs.

No separate penalty was given for the fraud offence.

[somerset]

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Ma ... 5516851.jp


The court heard that Keenan, who was convicted in June of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was later interviewed and said his uncle owed him £120 and he had been at his grandfather's house, where the giro is delivered, when he took it.

Excuse my ignorrance on this one as i have never been on benifits since i left school. But why is the giro delivered to his grandfathers house and not the Uncles house ?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Ma ... 5516851.jp


The court heard that Keenan, who was convicted in June of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was later interviewed and said his uncle owed him £120 and he had been at his grandfather's house, where the giro is delivered, when he took it.

Excuse my ignorrance on this one as i have never been on benifits since i left school. But why is the giro delivered to his grandfathers house and not the Uncles house ?

It could be the Grandfather and Uncle both live at the same address.

[DGP1]

I didn't know they still sent out giros

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I didn't know they still sent out giros

cor you must deliver in a posh part - I do about 20 - 30 a day.

[DGP1]

I didn't know they still sent out giros

cor you must deliver in a posh part - I do about 20 - 30 a day.

I haven't seen them in years I was under the impression that the DHSS had moved the payments to bank accounts.