Ashington woman racks up £28,000 phone contracts debt for her family

Fraudster Laura Rowell was living at home with both parents and her sister when she conned all three over a nine-month period.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the 28-year-old later cashed in by selling the Samsung phones but the debt soon racked up as no money was being paid on the contracts.

Prosecutor Ian West told the court that Rowell's offending began in March 2020 after a recent break-up, and continued until the December when she was caught and subsequently arrested.

Mr West said: "The case came to light in slightly unusual way in that the defendant was reported to the police by her family.

"In December 2020 the defendant had previously, and did again, put a stop on Royal Mail to the house.

"In early 2021 some post did get through and what got through was a number of demanding letters from a number of mobile phone companies to various members of Laura's family."They of course knew nothing about these contracts. There was a discussion in the family of what to do about it."They took the decision to report the defendant to the police.

"It seems that the telephone service providers were reluctant to get involved in the prosecution at all and very little paperwork has been provided by them."

The court heard that Rowell took the handset devices, some of which were equipped with Airpod earphones, to a phone store where she sold them for between £500 and £750.

Mr West added: "She had nothing really to show from the money she had got. She said she was a compulsive spender of money.

"It went on nights out and perfumes and other things which really didn't amount to anything substantial."

Rowell, of Alexander Road in Ashington, admitted her offending in police interview and later pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.

The court heard that the total debt amounted to £28,534 from the contracts.

Nigel Hedley, defending, said that his client was of previous good character and was remorseful for her actions.

He also submitted statements from the family members who stated whilst initially being angry at her actions, they had forgiven Rowell and did not want her going to prison.

Mr Recorder Mark Giuliani told Rowell: "Following a difficult break-up, in my judgement you clearly had some sort of mental breakdown as it used to be called.

"Because of your previous experience working in the mobile phone industry, you used that experience and set up contracts which were fraudulently set up in their names.

"You sold these at a local shop. You would have had something in the region of £10,000 to £12,000 to spend."

The judge acknowledged that Rowell deceived her family by taking the contracts out but outlined that by law the victims were the mobile phone companies and sentenced her to a two-year community order.

He added: "They have not provided any significant information.

"There's no information from them they have suffered any significant harm.

"I'm satisfied the offending may be met by a community order."

Rowell must also complete rehabilitation activities and complete 250 hours of unpaid work.