Crowhurst man stole cash from sick neighbour

A Crowhurst man who fraudulently used a neighbour's debit card to steal almost £600 from her bank account while she was seriously ill in hospital has been sentenced at Lewes Crown Court.

Stephen Crick, 47, of Forewood Rise, was given a two-year suspended jail term and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court.

Crick was also placed under curfew for four months, and must stay indoors between 7pm and 6am daily during that time.

Crick had consistently denied the offence of fraud by false representation, which occurred in June 2009, but changed his plea to guilty at the crown court hearing.