A FRAUDSTER who paid in stolen cheques to his own account, absconded from court before he could be sentenced.

Worcester Magistrates’ Court put out a warrant on Richard Doe after he stormed out of an interview with probation officers prior to a sentencing hearing on Thursday.

The 37-year-old had admitted to charges of fraud by false representation for his part in a scheme to steal more than £900 from Guy Scholle, who lives in sheltered accommodation.

Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said Doe was paid £50 by Anthony Harris for each cheque he cashed once they’d cleared at Barclays Bank, Malvern, on September 2 and October 10.

“Harris has entered into Mr Scholle’s accommodation and removed a cheque book from a drawer and helped himself to a number of checks from the book,” said Miss Ashton.

The court heard how cheques worth £550 and £350 were paid into Doe’s bank account, before he withdrew the money and gave it to Harris in exchange for payment.

Sunil Jagatia, defending, said his client, of Russell Close, Malvern, “was using drugs at the time. He was using heroin and had used the money to fund his drug habit.”

He said Doe is currently attending Swanswell drug rehabilitation sessions every Thursday and “does want to change”.

The court heard that Doe was given a 12-week custodial sentence in December, suspended for 12 months for another drugs offence.

“He has tried to help himself in the last four months,” said Mr Jagatia. “He accepts four months isn’t much.”

Sue Roberts, chair of the bench, said: “This is on the threshold of a custodial sentence.”

The defendant was taken out of the court to be interviewed by probation officers and was expected to return to court for sentencing on the same day.

The prosecution did not know how much stolen money Harris had cashed into his own account in total from Mr Scholle.

However, the court heard how Harris was given a suspended sentence at Crown Court on March 28.