A Haverfordwest woman abused the trust and hospitality of a family member by fraudulently using his card to buy thousands of pounds worth of items for herself.

Helen Victoria Lawrence, of Fleming Crescent, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation when she appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Tuesday, November 6.

The court heard that she had ordered items online totalling £2,668.03 using card details belonging to her step-father, without his knowledge between January 4, 2016 and September 24, 2018,

Sian Vaughan, prosecuting, said an aggravating factor to the offence was that the victim was a family member.

“Miss Lawrence was staying with her step-father who had offered her assistance because she had fallen on hard times.”

She added that the victim, who suffered from health issues including a cracked hip, discovered that Miss Lawrence had gained access to his card and used it without his permission.

The court heard that Lawrence, 39, had withdrawn money to buy items such as a mobile phone, and there was an element of pre-planning to her offending as she had retrieved the victim’s bank statements from the post so he was unaware the cash had been taken out.

Despite Lawrence’s efforts to cover her tracks, the fraud was discovered when the man visited his bank and the police were called.

Jonathan Webb, defending, told the bench that Lawrence was sorry for her actions.

He said: “It was an abusive of trust in that she was looking after this person, so she abused that position by using his card to take the money from him.”

Magistrates sentenced Lawrence to a two year community order with 200 hours of unpaid work and a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

She was ordered to pay £2,668 compensation to the bank and £170 in costs and a surcharge, which will be paid at a rate of £5 a week.

The chairman of the bench said: “What makes it particularly bad is this is someone who offered assistance and help at your time of need.

“You took advantage of his trust.”