Fraudster’s ‘mean theft’ from vulnerable Harrogate man
A convicted fraudster pleaded guilty to stealing money from a vulnerable man at Harrogate Magistrates Court this week.
Ali Bakhtiary, 30 of Franklin Mount admitted to stealing money from a man suffering from mental health issues.
The second-hand goods dealer took £400 from the his vulnerable victim, to buy a television which he never delivered.
The court was told that the victim’s social workers got involved after they found out what had happened but Mr Bakhtiary lied and told them time and time again over several months that the television would be delivered.
Prosecuting, Marie Walsh said: “The TV was never delivered and that increased his anxiety. This defendant took advantage of his mental health difficulties.”
Sentencing on November 10, magistrate Michael Jeffries said: “This was a very mean theft from a very vulnerable person.”
Bakhtiary ordered to repay the £400 in compensation and sentenced to 24 weeks in custody which he will serve alongside his current sentence for fraud.
The court heard that Bakhtiary was jailed earlier this year for three years after an internet scam saw him take money from people on Ebay, and never sending them goods.