A UNIVERSITY student who stole credit card details from his part-time employer has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Ahmed Al-Tai, 20, pleaded guilty to obtaining credit by deception after using credit card details in a Darwin motel’s computer system to pay for his car repairs.
Prosecutor Sergeant Justene Dwyer told the court Al-Tai was working at the motel as a receptionist in May.
She said he took the credit card details from the motel’s computer to pay more than $1000 in car repairs.
A few days later, he used the same details to pay for $1500 worth of car parts.
In both cases the victim contacted the companies and got a refund.
Al-Tai’s lawyer Peter Mariotto told the court his client had been under financial stress.
Magistrate Greg Cavanagh rejected Mr Mariotto’s submission that Al-Tai should not have a conviction recorded.
“In my view these offences are just too serious and need to have a conviction recorded,” Mr Cavanagh said.
“To pinch credit card details from an innocent person and use them not once but twice is more than just a stupid thing.”
Mr Cavanagh sentenced Al-Tai to three months in prison, fully suspended for the credit offences, and fined him $500 and disqualified his licence for six months for driving offences.
“You’d better get on top of your dishonesty, sir, or you’ll find yourself going to jail,” Mr Cavanagh said.
