A GEORGE Town man tried to win back his ex-partner's affections by going on a $12,500 shopping spree on a debit card that was not his, a court has heard.
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Tobie Leigh Thomas, 22, also paid off a lay-by in his own name using the PayWave card, the Launceston Magistrates Court was told yesterday.
He had previously pleaded guilty to 68 counts of having obtained goods by false pretences, 15 counts of forgery of a signature and 15 counts of having used the forged signature to buy goods.
Magistrate Simon Brown said Thomas had tried to minimise his risk by ensuring most items bought were below the $100 threshold for a signature.
Mr Brown said Thomas had "lavished presents" on his ex-partner at someone else's expense.
He jailed Thomas for two months, wholly suspended for 18 months, ordered him to complete 84 hours of community work and placed him on a 12-month probation order.
Police prosecutor Trudie Lusted told the court that the total value of Thomas's three-day crime spree in Launceston was $12,558.33.
Thomas came into possession of the CBA PayWave debit card on January 6 this year, after the owner lost it.
Mrs Lusted said Thomas made numerous transactions and was identified through CCTV and by workers who knew him.
His purchases included two trail bikes and a helmet from Zinmoto at Invermay, a saddle from Horseland and a saddle blanket from Saddleworld, the latter two items an attempt to win back his horseriding ex-partner.
Thomas also defrauded stores including Allgoods, Repco, EB Games, Kmart, BP, Coles, Target and Woolworths.
Mrs Lusted said Thomas told police that he was in financial difficulties and had sold some of the goods.
Defence solicitor James Oxley said his client was a long-term cannabis user and had been going through a relationship break-up.
Mr Oxley said Thomas had co-operated with police and helped them to recover some of the goods he had bought.