Man admits tobacco deception

A Douglas man's admitted obtaining £1,200 by deception after a scam involving pouches of tobacco.

David Yeomans pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Douglas Courthouse this week.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes heard the 36-year-old had offered to sell 200 50-gram pouches and arranged to meet a man outside a Ballaugh pub.

However when he was given the money he made off leaving his customer empty-handed.

The prosecutor told the court an unidentified man with a Welsh accent had phoned the victim and arranged a meeting at 6pm on June 23rd outside The Raven.

He handed over cash and received a phone call saying the stolen tobacco would arrive shortly - however Yeomans got into a car and left. 

The man told police who traced Yeomans fingerprints he'd left on a handwritten receipt.

In court Yeomans said he'd been acting alone and claimed he'd been the one making the phone calls using a fake accent.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes bailed Yeomans until he's sentenced on December 6th saying "there are elements of seriousness involved in this offence - not least the amount of money involved and the deception".