A MAN from Prestatyn has received a suspended sentence after admitting two counts of fraud which stood to make him a gain of nearly £21,000.

Steven Roberts, 48, of Ceri Avenue, pleaded guilty to the following at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court on October 19:

• Opening a MBNA credit account in his wife’s name, intending to make a gain for himself of £10,860.62 on April 16, 2018.

• Opening a Lloyd's credit account in his wife’s name, intending to make a gain for himself of £10,136.16, on September 30, 2018.

This made a total gain of £20,996.78.

At Mold Crown Court today (November 10), Roberts received a concurrent 12-month prison sentence for both offences, suspended for 18 months.

He will also pay the £20,996.78 in compensation, as well as £340 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service, and a victim surcharge of £115.

Roberts will also complete 180 hours of unpaid work.

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Prosecuting, Rosemary Proctor told the court of how Roberts opened these accounts entirely unbeknown to his wife, who was in the United States at the time.

She became aware of the accounts only when contacted by a debt collection company to which the banks in question had sold the consolidated debt.

Roberts was interviewed by police on July 10, and admitted using these accounts to pay off debts from other cards.

She said Roberts was “desperate”, and thought this would be a “quick fix”, having attempted to pay off the debts in January, but was unable to as they were not in his name

Roberts, whose divorce from his wife was finalised earlier this month, had previous convictions relating to four offences of obtaining a money transfer by fraud in 2006.

Defending, Nicholas Williams acknowledged that Roberts pleaded guilty and accepted culpability from the outset, having made a full admission when interviewed.

Williams added that, despite his now-ex-wife having suffered upset and harm, she made no statement to police and didn’t support the prosecution.

And while there were “no excuses” for his actions, Williams drew a “slight distinction between someone who fraudulently obtained funds for greed, to live a lavish lifestyle” and Roberts.

He said: “This was out of desperation – he had accrued debts from his marriage, and thought it would be a quick fix.

“He transferred funds from his credit card on a high interest rate, exploiting her good credit rating.

“When she found out, she asked for a divorce. He moved out shortly after, and the divorce finalised earlier this month.

Williams added that Roberts is due a financial pay-out from the sale of his home later this month, which is expected to be in the region of 52,000.

This, he said will put him in a position to repay the outstanding amount.

Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry accepted that Roberts had shown “true remorse”.

He ordered Roberts to pay all of the aforementioned costs in full within three months, though an extension may be granted if difficulties arise regarding the sale of his home.

Judge Parry said: “For the second time, you stand before a court for offences of deception.

“And on this occasion, there were two victims: the banks, and your wife.

“I say no more, because the reality is your marriage ended because of this offending. I can’t ignore that.

“Other offences I referred to were a long time ago, and in-between there has been no repeat offending.

“Which, to my mind, supports the suggestion that initially, this was an act on your behalf that soon developed to be dishonest.”