Last updated 16:00, Wednesday, 07 May 2008

A WHITEHAVEN man was ordered to pay £200 by Magistrates after pleading guilty to stealing his ex-girlfriend’s debit card to withdraw money from a cash point.

Lee John William Clark, 19, of Cleator Moor, had been at his girlfriend’s house on the night of April 18 when the pair had an argument.

The following day his girlfriend noticed that her debit card was missing. She phoned the bank to cancel the card and was told that a cash withdrawal had been made leading her to the conclusion that Clark must have taken it as he was the only person who knew the number.

Clark was later arrested and admitted both offences.

Simon Ward, speaking on behalf of Clark, said that the relationship had been on and off for a number of years and that Clark had taken the card as a kind of revenge and to try and reimburse himself after spending £140 on a tumble drier for his girlfriend.

Mr Ward pointed out that he only took £10 from the account despite having the opportunity to take a lot more.

He was fined £100 for theft, £100 for the fraud, £43 costs and £15 victim surcharge.