Derry Court: Suspended sentence for fraudster who used a child 'as a prop'

A man who a judge said had used a child 'as a prop' to perpetrate a fraud has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court today.

John Stephen Maughan (27) of Upper Galliagh Road in Derry admitted a charge of fraud by false representation on July 4 last year.

The court heard that the injured party had placed a games console and other items for sale on Gumtree.

He was contacted that evening by a man who only gave his first name and spoke with a strong Southern accent.

A price was agreed and a meeting was arranged later that day in a business park.

The injured party drove there and was approached by a man, the defendant, who was accompanied by a child.

A price of £610 was agreed for the items and Maughan said he could only pay by bank transfer.

He carried out the transaction on his phone and showed the screenshot to the injured party that the payment had been made.

The goods were then loaded into the defendant's vehicle by the child.

The next day the seller noticed no money had been transferred and contacted Maughan who said it was a bank issue but when no money appeared in the next few days the injured party contacted police.

Police were given the phone number and were able to link that phone to the defendant due to a previous encounter with him. 

Defence counsel Sinead Rogan said her client understood this was a 'nasty offence' involving as it did a breach of trust.

She said Maughan had come to the court with money to compensate the injured party.

Deputy District Judge Trevor Brown said this was a nasty offence made worse by the use of a child as a prop.

He said it was carefully planned and carried out.

Maughan was sentenced to 4 months in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay £610 in compensation.