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Cheque con man fleeced friend
A MAN who fleeced his friend out of £2,800 after conning him into handing over a blank cheque has been spared jail.
Andrew Cotton persuaded his pal Connor Souter to write him a blank cheque for a "joke" – but the 40-year-old cashed it in and used the money to pay off a debt, Newcastle Crown Court yesterday heard.
Jane Waugh, prosecuting, told the court Mr Souter thought Cotton, of Three Rivers Court, West Boldon, had torn up the cheque, but discovered he had cashed it for 2,800, after forging his signature last May.
Ms Waugh added: "It was processed for payment, creating a debt for Mr Souter.
"The defendant owed his brother a sum of money and used the cheque to pay off some of it.
"He argued to the police officers that he had paid 50 for the cheque.
He subsequently withdrew that allegation and said that wasn't the case." Cotton pleaded guilty to fraud and making a false instrument at a previous hearing.
Paul Currer, defending, said: "He is a man 40 years old and of previous good character. His brother was putting pressure on him.
"He has debts of 6,000 at the moment. He took this cheque, his motivation was using it as a delaying tactic to his brother.
"Up until three years ago he was in employment but that situation changed and thereafter tragic circumstances befell him.
"He has fallen on hard times and now managing with the help of his friends to put things right."
Handing him a 12-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work, Judge Esmond Faulks said: "At the time I don't think you were thinking very clearly.
"You persuaded a friend of yours to give you a blank cheque. He did so thinking you would tear it up.
"The bank has paid his debt off. You pleaded guilty and you have no previous convictions.
"You were clearly not in your right mind at the time. You were suffering depression following the death of someone close to you."
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 11 February 2012
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