A credit card fraudster was told by a Chelmsford judge last week, "The dishonest use of credit cards costs billions of pounds annually and is the scourge of us all."

Abass Hussain, 28, of Windsor Terrace, Beckton, admitted three offences of obtaining property by deception in Chelmsford on September 29 and one attempting to obtain property.

He was ordered to do 160 hours community punishment and pay £244.94 compensation and £100 court costs.

Claire Watson, prosecuting at Chelmsford Crown Court said Hussain went shopping in two telephone shops, Argos and Iceland in Chelmsford, using a corrupt credit card.

John Lee, mitigating, said the offences occurred when Hussain was apart from his wife and children.

Published Tuesday, May 27, 2003

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