A SHREWSBURY man will be sentenced next month after he broke into a woman’s Powys home and stole her bank card – before using it to withdraw hundreds of pounds.

Thomas Johnson broke into the home of Dorothy Harrison in Leighton Court, Welshpool, on December 30, 2020.

The 52-year-old took her bank card and used it to withdraw £400 cash in Welshpool, then proceeding to withdraw further sums or using the card to pay for items at various shops in Shrewsbury.

Mold Crown Court heard on Tuesday, November 15, that Johnson admitted eight charges in total – one of burglary and seven of fraud, in relation to victim Ms Harrison.

A further charge of fraud was denied, as were two charges of breaching a sexual harm prevention order that Johnson was made the subject of in 2017.

Debra White, acting for Johnson, of New Park Road, Shrewsbury, said there was no need for a trial on the three not guilty pleas as the prosecution had accepted the pleas to the other eight offences.

“Your honour indicated (on the last occasion) that if Mr Johnson was found guilty he would likely receive an immediate sentence of imprisonment.

“However, if he was to plead guilty, and the crown has indicated that they would accept guilty pleas to all counts on the indictment, save for counts 1, 2 and 10, that he would receive a non-immediate sentence of imprisonment.”

Judge Niclas Parry said: “That is my view, provided that Mr Johnson doesn’t fool about and is cooperative in the preparation of a report which provides me with a constructive alternative.”

The breach of the sexual harm prevention order accused Johnson of going within 50 metres of an entrance, boundary or perimeter of a school or play area used by children, with both of these alleged offences said to have taken place in Welshpool.

Johnson is prohibited from going within 50 metres of a school following the order being made at Mold Crown Court on March 13, 2017.

The fraud charges he pleaded guilty to include Johnson taking £400 from an HSBC ATM, as well as a further £10 and £90 cash from Lloyd's Bank; in addition to using Ms Morrison’s card to buy £36.50 worth of goods from Millet's, £38 of goods at Claremont News and £21.05 at Tesco – all in Shrewsbury.

He also tried to purchase other goods worth £21.95 from Tesco, but this was declined.

The charge of fraud he denied alleged he tried to take £400 from a Lloyd’s Bank ATM, which was subsequently declined.

Judge Parry told Johnson he would appear before him again in Mold on December 16 to be sentenced.