Thursday, 14 August 2014

Designer clothes and handbags bought by single mother after council put £52,000 into her account by mistake are sold on eBay by police


Michaela Hutchings went on a spending spree after £50,000 was mistakenly put into her bank account
Michaela Hutchings went on a spending spree after £50,000 was mistakenly put into her bank account
Designer clothes bought by a single mother after more than £50,000 of council money was mistakenly put in her bank account are being auctioned by police on eBay.
Michaela Hutchings, 23, used £51,821 accidentally transferred into her account by Lichfield Council to buy expensive designer shoes, handbags and sunglasses in a spending splurge last year.
After she was caught, a judge spared her jail on the condition she paid the money back by Christmas Eve.
Now the high-class fashion items, including luxury labels such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren and Dior, will be auctioned by Staffordshire Police. 
The small fortune should have gone to Bromford Housing Association.
The internet auction starts tomorrow after Hutchings was convicted of dishonesty and retaining a wrongly-credited bank transfer and was handed a 12 month supervision order.
She was also told to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
A confiscation hearing ordered the 23-year-old to repay the £51,821 bank transfer, plus £643 interest and the auction will help pay that order.
The vast majority of the money has been recovered, but Hutchings still owes £5,733 from the designer clothes spree and interest.









Gucci shoes and accessories will be among the items auctioned by Staffordshire Police 

Gucci shoes and accessories will be among the items auctioned by Staffordshire Police 
Hutchings blamed pressure from her boyfriend on the spending spree
Pressure: Hutchings blamed pressure from her now ex-boyfriend for the Birminham spending spree 
In just two days, Hutchings had spent thousands.
She spent the money on £5,000 worth of designer goods, including shoes, jeans and sunglasses and a £1,000 gift to her family.
Hutchings also transferred £40,000 into an investment account after being advised by her bank, which was oblivious to the error.
After April's court appearance, Hutchings said: 'I'm so ashamed. I did wrong and I'm sorry, but before you judge me, put yourself in my shoes. I was a single mum - money isn't always easy. But this was not how I was brought up.'
She claimed her ex-partner encouraged her to keep the unexpected windfall.
This expensive Louis Vuitton bag will be one of the items up for grabs once the auction starts tomorrow
This expensive Louis Vuitton bag will be one of the items up for grabs once the auction starts tomorrow
These Dior sunglasses bought by Ms Hutchings during her shopping spree will also be up for sale
These Dior sunglasses bought by Ms Hutchings during her shopping spree will also be up for sale
She added: 'Of course I take responsibility, but there was definitely an influence from my boyfriend.
'I have never been out of work. I know it's my fault that everyone around me is suffering, and that is so hard. Just one bad decision can change your life.' 
Hutchings said she only discovered the money while withdrawing cash on a trip to buy milk, and when she quizzed her bank over the sum, they couldn't tell her where it had come from.
She maintains that she wouldn't have touched the money had it not been for her ex-boyfriend, who she says took her to Birmingham's Bull Ring Shopping Centre to spend the cash.
A Louis Vuitton leather belt will be one of the designer items that will be auctioned by police on eBay
A Louis Vuitton leather belt will be one of the designer items that will be auctioned by police on eBay
Goods
Goods
Hutchings said she only discovered the money while withdrawing cash on a trip to buy milk
Hutchings, 23, used £51,821 accidentally transferred into her account by Lichfield Council to buy expensive designer shoes, handbags and sunglasses in a spending splurge last year
Hutchings, 23, used £51,821 accidentally transferred into her account by Lichfield Council to buy expensive designer shoes, handbags and sunglasses in a spending splurge last year
The pair went to Selfridges where, according to Hutchings, her boyfriend bought thousands of pounds worth of designer clothes, shoes, belts and sunglasses. 
At the hearing earlier this year, Recorder Derek Desmond said: 'On 24 April last year, a little over £52,000 was put in to your account in error.
'That had nothing to do with you. You didn't cause that error, but you decided to keep it, knowing, after a short while it was wrong and you failed to take reasonable steps to cancel it.
'I have no doubt you were influenced by your partner, he wanted to spend the money. You went on a spending spree and between you, you spent £9,000.
'This man who spurred you on is no longer in your life - no doubt your family will be glad about that.'
Goods
Hutchings said she and her ex-boyfriend spent thousands of pounds in Selfridges in Birmingham
Hutchings spent £5,000 on designer goods, including this Louis Vuitton handbag, which will on eBay tomorrow
Hutchings spent £5,000 on designer goods, including this Louis Vuitton handbag, which will on eBay tomorrow

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