A Mt Warrigal man accused of spending $730 on someone else’s credit card has denied allegations he knew the item was stolen property.
Steven John Howard, 30, faced Wollongong Local Court on Friday on 10 charges stemming from the September 27 incident, which began in the early hours of the morning when an unknown person broke into a home on Reid Street in Kiama and stole the occupant’s wallet containnig his credit cards and $300 cash.
Court documents said Howard and an accomplice were recorded on CCTV footage using the man’s card to pay for petrol at the nearby Caltex Service Station about 4.30am.
At 9.20am, the card was used to make three Paywave purchases at the Reject Shop, totalling $225, while at 10.10am, the card was again used at Manning Street Cellar to buy grog.
It is alleged the card was used a fourth time a few minutes later to buy fish and chips, then three hours later at Supercheap Auto in Warilla.
Police will allege CCTV footage places Howard at the scene during each purchase.
He was arrested on Thursday after allegedly being found behind the wheel of a stolen Hyundai Getz.
In court on Friday, defence lawyer Justine Hall entered pleas of not guilty to fraud offences on Howard’s behalf.
She said the issue at hearing would be whether prosecutors could prove Howard knew the credit card was stolen when he used it.
Magistrate Geraldine Beattie granted Howard strict strict bail on account of his limited criminal history.
As part of his bail conditions, Howard must report to police daily, abide by a curfew to be at his Mt Warrigal home between 8pm and 6am and has been banned from enetering the Kiama area.
Extracted in full from: https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/6422940/mt-warrigal-man-denies-730-paywave-fraud-charges/
