A heavy metal musician stole money from his autistic friend after she trusted him with her PIN number.
‘Despicable’ thief Ashley Lewis Hammett, 20, stole hundreds of pounds from the victim by taking her bank card and withdrawing money.
The court heard that Hammett’s ‘trusting and vulnerable’ friend – who has learning difficulties – had previously fed, clothed and offered shelter to Hammett.
When police tracked him down in Accrington via his benefits payments, he started ‘lashing out’ at the officer, Burnley Crown Court was told.
Judge Beverley Lunt ordered Hammett to pay £296 compensation with a 12-month supervision order and made him subject to notification requirements for two years.
She said: “You should be terribly ashamed of yourself, stealing this lady’s money.
“She trusted you. It’s a despicable thing for you to have done.”
Prosecutor David Clarke, said Hammett stole the victim’s bank card from her coat pocket after she trusted him with the PIN and used it to withdraw cash.
Hammett, now of Lancaster Street, Blackburn, and formerly of Oswaldtwistle, admitted failing to comply with notification requirements given to him in February when he was convicted of sexual activity with a child after he admitted sending text messages of a sexual nature. Hammett was given a conditional discharge for that offence.
As part of his sentence he was told that he must notify the police of his whereabouts, but he failed to do so due to a period when he was ‘sofa surfing’ around Hyndburn, the court heard.
At the latest hearing he also pleaded guilty to theft and resisting a police officer.
James Heyworth, defending, said Hammett suffers from mental health issues and has an unstable family background, which led him to take advantage of those who show him kindness.
He said: “It isn’t a friendship that has been formed for the purposes of taking money.”
