£1,200 to chase a 53p fraud
A DECISION to spend £1,200 of taxpayers’ money prosecuting a teenager over a 53p fraud has been labelled “barmy”.
Nathan Sparrow, 18, pleaded guilty to using a friend’s gym pass for just over an hour on one occasion in October.
But Olwen Davies, defending, told Leicester magistrates the case had cost £1,200 in legal fees, court time, and police preparation.
In contrast, she said, the value of the fraud was 53p, as the gym charged £15.99 a month for membership.
WIN A LUXURY CRUISE FOR TWO WORTH £2,500!
Sparrow, who claimed he didn’t know he was breaking the law, was given a 12-month conditional discharge, and ordered to pay £185 costs.
Charlotte Linacre, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “It is totally barmy to waste taxpayers’ money by spending over £1,000 chasing such a small sum.”