A WOMAN plundered over £2,000 using her boyfriend's credit card while he was working away with the Royal Navy.
Emma Hardy, 24, admitted fraud by false representation between March 25 and April 11 this year, when she appeared before Grimsby Magistrates' Court.
The court heard Hardy had been in a relationship with Matthew Savage for about five years, and lived in Cleethorpes at the time of the offences.
The court was told Hardy used the credit card to withdraw cash and purchase items in North East Lincolnshire and at Meadowhall, Sheffield.
Prosecuting, Martin Howarth said: "Mr Savage went to live in Weymouth with the Royal Navy and when he came home on April 10 this year he went to withdraw some money and realised he was overdrawn."
He added: "Activation on the account indicated that there had been a lot of withdrawals and transactions in the Cleethorpes area.
"As far as he was aware, he had not given the PIN to the defendant."
Three transactions were made in Meadowhall, the court heard.
"He (Mr Savage) said to the police that he tried to sort the matter with the defendant," Mr Howarth added.
He said the value of the fraud was £2,362.47.
Hardy was arrested and interviewed.
Mr Howarth said: "She knew Mr Savage's bank card had been delivered and said she told him it had arrived and that he told her she could use it. She said he agreed to the transactions.
"She said she did not realise she had used the bank card in Sheffield."
He said nothing had been agreed between the two parties to recompense Mr Savage.
Mitigating, Michael Culshaw said: "It's a great shame that the parties haven't been able to reach any common ground."
He said Hardy had lost her "good character" having had no previous offences and faced having a serious conviction on her record.
He added: "She takes the view that what she has done is wrong. She wants to draw a line under this matter."
He said Hardy was now with a new partner and was expecting a child.
He added: "She has only just had a benefit claim resolved. She usually works in terms of whatever she can get. This is her first claim for benefits. This is so she can come to court and say there's some money available."
Deputy District Judge Andrew Pascoe told Hardy: "There's an abuse of trust here because you knew the card belonged to your former partner. You used the card over a period of time."
He ordered Hardy, now of Gosport, Hampshire, to pay back the full amount to her former partner.
She was also given a 28-day curfew between the hours of 8pm and 8am.
