Court told of card scam 'crime spree'

Attempts were made to use cloned or stolen American Express cards in Belfast, Bangor, Craigavon and Omagh, the High Court heard.

Rokas Venckus faces four charges of attempted fraud by false representation and four counts of going equipped for theft during August and September.

It was also revealed that he is to be charged with at least 15 other offences.

Prosecutors said the 20-year-old, with an address at Rectory Park, Lurgan, had travelled to Northern Ireland to go on “a crime spree.”

Mr Venckus was refused bail after the judge said he was not satisfied the accused’s identity had been properly established.

He was arrested at a HMV store in Bangor after allegedly trying to buy 600 worth of goods using a credit card.

Crown counsel Conor Maguire said police alleged he had made a similar purchase in the same shop three days earlier.

A credit card was also used at the HMV store in Craigavon.

CCTV footage has been used to link Mr Venckus to the alleged crimes, the court heard.

“Inquiries with American Express revealed all the cards were cloned,” Mr Maguire said.

“As a result of his arrest, charge and subsequent detention police then circulated the type of offence by modus operandi and it came to light similar incidents had occurred in Omagh, Belfast and Bangor.

“They relate to American Express cards and there is a linkage between the cards and the cards used by the applicant for which he appears today.”

The accused was said to have other addresses in north Yorkshire and southern England, the court heard.

Mr Maguire further claimed the suspect showed “a brazen attitude” to alleged offences committed over a wide geographical area.

“This applicant has no roots in Northern Ireland. Police believe he was over here on a crime spree.”

A defence lawyer told the court Mr Venckus had arrived a few weeks before his arrest.

He argued that his client should be released due to the length of time the investigation was likely to take.

But Lord Justice Higgins ruled: “It's very difficult to see how a court can grant bail to an applicant whose identity has not been established.”