A woman stole her friend’s bank card and withdrew more than £600 because she was “desperate” to buy drugs, her defence lawyer has told a court.
Laura Wemyss withdrew hundreds of pounds over the three days after taking the card, which had previously been given to her to do the shopping for herself and the friend.
The man failed to notice the card was missing until around a month after last using it.
But a hand-written note was posted through his door, advising he cancel his cards.
A call to the bank then revealed the unauthorised spending and an investigation found that Wemyss, 33, was responsible.
Fiscal depute Tom Procter told Aberdeen Sheriff Court that April 23 2020 was the last time that the man had noticed he had the card in his possession.
He said: “It was a month later he got a letter, hand-written, telling him to cancel his card”.
The man then checked and realised the card was missing and immediately phoned the bank.
His bank informed him it had been used on various occasions to withdraw a total of £650.
Caught on camera
“The card was subsequently returned to him through his letter box with no accompanying letter,” Mr Procter added.
The man reported the matter to police and an investigation revealed Wemyss had been caught on CCTV making various transactions at Asda in Garthdee.
Wemyss, of Ruthrieston Circle, Aberdeen, pled guilty to stealing the bank card on Holburn Street on May 23 2020, and to using it to steal £650 at Asda between then and May 26 2020.
‘Simply desperate for drugs’
Defence agent Michael Horsman said his client is unemployed and suffers from “some health issues”.
He added: “She has historically had a problem with drug addiction. She and the complainer were known to each other.
“The complainer had allowed her to use the card on various occasions to fund shopping. She subsequently took the card and used it as described.
“She was simply desperate to get money to obtain drugs,” Mr Horsman explained.
He also said his client had since sought help with her drug issues and confirmed that none of the money had been paid back.
Sheriff Morag Fraser deferred sentence on Wemyss until March, for her to prove she can behave.
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