(Image: The Northern Echo)
A man has admitted fraudulently taking payments over a four-month period for a “bonus-ball” lottery scheme he claimed to operate.
Defendant Ethan Jack Mackay will only be sentenced, however, once the prosecution has reviewed his basis of plea, including the amount by which he defrauded the victim.
The defendant appeared yesterday (Monday August 17) at Durham Crown Court accused of defrauding a man to make payments into the scheme, between January 31 and June 1, 2023.
He is said to have committed fraud by making a false representation to the victim which he knew was or might be untrue or misleading, namely that he operated a "bonus-ball" lottery scheme for which he took payments.
Durham Crown Court told defendant defrauded man by taking payment for entry to 'bonus-ball' lottery scheme
(Image: The Northern Echo)
Mackay pleaded guilty, but his counsel, Caoimhe Bicknell, said there would be a basis of plea submitted to the court in the coming weeks.
Miss Bicknell also requested preparation of a background report on her client by the Probation Service, before he is sentenced.
Dr Chris Wood, prosecuting, said once the basis of plea is submitted the Crown would need time to review it to see if it is considered “acceptable”, or if a trial of issue would be needed.
He added that the prosecution would be seeking compensation for the victim in the case.
Recorder Mark McKone told Mackay he would be sentenced one way or another in the autumn, possibly after a trial of issue, if his plea basis is not accepted by the prosecution.
He agreed to the request for preparation of a Probation Service background report on Mackay prior to the eventual sentencing hearing.
Bailing the 25-year-old defendant of Waterloo Close, Crook, the Recorder set a provisional date for the next hearing, which may be the sentencing hearing, on October 1.