Grove burglar jailed for two years

11:59am Friday 18th April 2008

A burglar who broke into up-market hotels, including The Grove, to steal credit cards and debit cards from people attending conferences, has been jailed for two years.

Jason Richards would use the cards to obtain money from cash point machines or walk into banks to plunder people's accounts.

In little over two years the fraudster got almost £80,000.

Richards, 36 of Atox Hall Road, Wyken, Coventry, pleaded guilty to four offences of burglary at hotels across Hertfordshire.

The included The Grove at Watford, Sopwell House in St Albans, another at High Wych near Sawbridgeworth and one in Waltham Cross.

He also pleaded guilty to seven offences of obtaining property by deception and three of fraud.

Finally he asked for 21 similar offences to be considered.

David Chrimes prosecuting said: "Essentially the defendant is a professional fraudster."

He said he had been involved in break-ins at hotels where delegates would be attending conferences.

Richards would be after credit cards, debit cards and cheque books left in wallets in jackets.

Having swiped them he would then visit cash points machine to make withdrawals.

Usually the amount he would get at a cash machine would be between £100 and £200.

But, said Mr Chrimes, he would also go into banks and presents debit cars over the counter and withdraw much large sums.

To illustrate just how much, the prosecutor said that over a two day period the defendant had stolen £32,000 by his deceptions.

All told Richards had made around £79,000 in a period between April 2005 and December 2007 when he was arrested.

"This was systematic offending over a long period of time" said Mr Chrimes.

The court heard that when arrested shortly before Christmas, Rogers had made full admissions to police.

Judge Stephen Warner was told Richards had a history of previous offences for fraud and deception as well as violence.

Gary Bell defending said his client had led a "wasted life" and had spent many years in prison for his crimes.

He said he now wanted to change his ways and that was why he had been open and frank with the police when they arrested him.

Judge Warner jailed him for two years.

A confiscation hearing to claw back the defendant's illegally acquired assets will be held in September .

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