A SERIAL fraudster who used stolen bank cards in York shops has been banned from the stores he targeted for a year.

Martyn Bell, 36, repeatedly “bought” items from convenience shops and supermarkets by using the contactless payment method, using stolen bank cards, York Magistrates Court heard.

He was given a 48-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, on condition he does a 16-week nightly curfew from 8pm to 6pm, and 40 days’ rehabilitation.

He was also banned for 12 months from Sainsbury’s Piccadilly, Foss Bank and Bootham stores, Tesco’s Piccadilly, Low Ousegate and Goodramgate stores, Morrison’s petrol station on Foss Islands Road, Co-op’s Paragon Street store, One Stop shops in Walmgate and Heslington Road, the Shell garage in Hull Road, Asda’s Layerthorpe store, and Supernews and Booze on Goodramgate.

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

On October 5, he visited 18 shops, targeting some stores more than once and in some stores using more than one card.

On September 7, he defrauded seven stores.

In total, he used five bank cards belonging to three people issued by four different banks and building societies.

Because he used their “contactless” facility, he didn’t have to know or input the card’s PIN number.

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.