A SERIAL offender used "contactless" bank cards to defraud their owners and city stores on an industrial scale, York Magistrates' Court heard.

Martyn Bell, 36, went on a fraud tour around York convenience shops and supermarkets, touching stores’ pay pads with stolen bank cards as he made purchase after purchase on October 5.

Because he used the contactless facility he didn’t have to know or use the cards’ PIN numbers.

In all, he made 18 stops, targeting some stores more than once. York Magistrates' Court heard that in some shops he used more than one card.

He had made a similar fraud tour on September 9 when he made seven “purchases”.

Bell used five bank cards belonging to three people issued by four different banks and building societies.

He got away with goods worth £659. The highest amount from any shop was £56.07, where he used two cards and the lowest amount was £4.80.

Most of the transactions were between £20 and £30.

Bell, of Lilbourne Drive, Clifton, pleaded guilty to 25 charges of fraud by false representation and three of receiving or handling stolen bank cards.

His solicitor Andrew Craven said: “He has used them contactless. No details were put in (the pay pads). He just touched it and it worked.

“Inevitably given the nature of the offences and the persistent nature of the transactions, I am going to have to involve the probation service,” district judge Adrian Lower told Bell, and adjourned the case until February 7 for a pre-sentence report.

He warned that a prison sentence will be among potential sentences.

Bell was released on unconditional bail.

The shops Bell targeted on October 5 were the Spar in Bridge Street and Sainsbury's stores in Piccadilly, which he targeted twice, and Foss Bank.

He also visited Tesco shops in Low Ousegate, which he targeted twice, Goodramgate and Piccadilly.

Bell also went to One Stop stores in Walmgate and Heslington Road, the Co-op in Paragon Street, the BP Garage in Lawrence Street, and the Shell Garage in Hull Road, which he targeted twice.

Morrisons supermarket and garage in Foss Islands Road was also visited, as was Asda in Layerthorpe and Supernews and Booze in Goodramgate.

On September 9 he targeted: Tesco stores in Piccadilly and Goodramgate, One Stop in Walmgate, Sainsbury's stores in Bootham and Piccadilly and Morrison’s petrol station in Foss Islands Road, which he targeted twice.

Bell has a long list of previous convictions.