Courts / Galway / Report
UK grandmother facing jail for her role in credit card fraud
Summary
Michelle Butterworth, 56, of Stanley Street, Rochdale, faces jail after pleading guilty to 13 credit card fraud offences committed over three weekends in September and October 2016. The offences occurred in Galway, Kildare and Dublin, where she and a gang used high‑quality fake credit cards to purchase €8,875 worth of goods, including Sony Playstations, Gucci watches, Samsung and Apple smartphones and a Claddagh ring. The gang targeted Field's Jewellers, Argos and Gamestop, exploiting a loyalty scheme and manual card entry to bypass security checks. Garda James Codd reported that the gang was apprehended after staff became suspicious and a surveillance operation led to arrests at a petrol station. Butterworth admitted her role, identified accomplices and claimed the fraud was to repay a loan taken to bury her husband, who died in 2013. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded her in continuing custody on 10 March, when a sentence will be imposed.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: UK grandmother facing jail for her role in credit card fraud. Charges or matters: 13 credit fraud offences over the course of three weekends in September and October 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 10th Adjournment
- October 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-03-02 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 13 credit fraud offences over the course of three weekends in September and October 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Karen O'Connor remanded Butterworth in continuing custody March 10th when she will impose sentence. Counsel added that as a foreign national, Butterworth would find any prison sentence particularly difficult.; Judge Karen O'Connor remanded Butterworth in continuing custody March 10th when she will impose sentence.
Places mentioned
- Stanley Street
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- William Street
- Galway city
Topics
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