Inverness woman jailed for four months for internet fraud and theft by shoplifting
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A woman who conned two people via social media into paying out £355 for two smartphones has been jailed for four months.
Inverness Sheriff Court was told that Jade Vint (24) committed the fraud via Facebook, getting one person to transfer £130 and then another person to move £225 into her account.
Both had expected to receive iPhones as a result of the transactions but neither did and the matter was reported to the police.
The offences took place between March 17 and March 21, 2018.
Fiscal depute Emma MacEwan said no recovery of the money was ever made.
The court heard that Vint had also stolen a quantity of "high value" alcohol from the Tesco Store at Inshes worth more than £540 on October 24 last year.
Miss MacEwan said she was caught after setting off an alarm by exiting through a fire door.
CCTV was reviewed and Vint, now a prisoner at Porterfield, could be seen putting the items in a shopping bag before making her escape.
She was traced nearby and the goods were recovered.
Vint, who appeared via video link, also admitted two breaches of bail by not abiding by a court imposed curfew.
She had been remanded in custody following pending future court appearances at her own request in order to try and get her life in order, her solicitor Clare Russell told the court.
Sheriff David Harvie imposed a four month custodial sentence, adding that he had little alternative.
The sheriff said: "It is indeed a sad situation.
"You appear to have reached the end of the road."
