Woman admits fraud after going on run
A FRAUDSTER who went on the run for three years after targeting businesses in Ely has avoided a jail term.
Karen Pritchard, 42, formerly of Stetchworth, had obtained goods and services in the city totalling more than 1,000 in July 2004.
On Thursday, Pritchard appeared at Ipswich Crown Court having pleaded guilty to nine offences of obtaining property by fraud and one offence of failing to surrender to custody. She asked for a further 27 similar fraud offences to be considered.
Prosecutor Joanne Eley said that in March 2004 Pritchard had obtained a loan of 10,540 from the HSBC bank saying she planned to set up a hand car wash business.
She opened a business account with the bank into which the money was paid but two months later it had all disappeared and Pritchard had run up a 419 overdraft, said Miss Eley.
Despite the account being closed down, Pritchard continued to write cheques on it to purchase items for which she had no way of paying. The cheques were declined for payment by the bank. In Ely she placed newspaper advertisements worth 824 and bought sports equipment worth more thn 200 while having no means to pay.
Pritchard, now of Marine Parade, Dovercourt, Essex, was arrested in September 2004. After being charged and while awaiting a court appearance she disappeared and was only finally tracked down last September, said Miss Eley.
She had managed to avoid being caught by moving several times and using false names.
Miss Eley told the court that Pritchard had a number of previous convictions for obtaining property by deception having used a stolen credit card.
In mitigation, Laura Maroof said that Pritchard, mother to two teenage sons, had suffered an acrimonious split from her husband.
Miss Maroof said that since going on the run Pritchard had not committed any further offences and, through her own efforts, managed to completely transform her lifestyle and circumstances.
Pritchard had acheived "amazing progress" in overcoming the alcohol problems and cocaine habit which had been part of he life when the offences were committed, said Miss Maroof. She was now also running a successful business.
Sentencing Pritchard, Recorder Martyn Levett told her that while the offences were so serious only a prison sentence was justified, he would be suspending that sentence to allow her to receive probation service support which would help her tackle her problems.
Pritchard was sentenced to a total of 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.
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