A man who attemped to commit a series of fraudulent acts at post offices in Tenby and Saundersfoot has been jailed.
Thirty-year-old Costel Ventel of St. Margaret’s Road, Birmingham, appeared at Havefordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday to admit the charges.
He was charged with committing fraud in that he dishonestly made a false representation, at Tenby post office on May 17, of last year, namely handing £980 in cash to the cashier intending to make a gain, by actually handing over only £500.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to a similar matter at Saundersfoot post office in that he jointly with his co-accused attempted to commit fraud by false representation, by repeatedly asking a member of staff to exchange a sum of money, hoping to cause confusion and discreetly remove some of the money before handing it over, intending to make a financial gain for yourself
On the same day at HSBC in Tenby, Mr. Ventel also jointly with his co-accused committed fraud in that he dishonestly made a false representation, namely handing over £920 to the cashier intending to make a gain by actually handing over a lesser sum of money.
He pleaded guilty to a further similar charge of attempting to commit fraud at HSBC in Llanelli.
When passing sentence, magistrates committed Mr. Ventel to prison for 24 weeks, stating that the offence was so serious because it was pre-meditated and planned, and due to the defendant’s record of previous offending.
He was also ordered to pay compensation of £240 to Tenby Post Office, on Warren Street; and £225 to Tenby’s HSBC branch at Tudor Square, as well as a £122 victim surcharge.
An arrest warrant without bail was issued for twenty-six-year-old Andre Kvec of Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, who was jointly accused of the charges, after he failed to appear in court for the hearing.