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Would-be-thief thought 'Christmas had come early'

Thu, 12 Mar 2015

A would-be thief who applied "finders keepers" logic to cheques that were sent to him "out of the blue" has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

21-year-old Jon-Paul Fayle was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse this week after previously pleading guilty to three charges of attempted theft from November 2013.

The Peel man was sent cheques for over £2,000 from the AXA charity fund which he then tried to pay into his own accounts with the Isle of Man Bank and HSBC.

His advocate said Fayle had thought "Christmas had come early" - but maintained he didn't know who had sent them, write his own name or alter the cheques in any way.

The court was told the delay in the case being concluded was due to the Isle of Man Bank refusing to cooperate with the police - it did however reimburse AXA in full.

Sentencing him Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said it was an "unsophisticated attempt to obtain money".

As well as the 16-week suspended sentence, which is suspended for two years, Fayle has been put under a supervision order and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £125. 

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