Uni student's role in phone scam leaves law career in tatters

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Saturday, June 16, 2012
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The Sentinel

LAW student Faysel Abedin has been convicted of taking part in a scam to steal mobile phones.

The 20-year-old, who is in his second year at Staffordshire University, appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday.

He and his uncle Mohammed Miah, aged 24, were recruited to help with a scheme in which the details of a phone company's customers were stolen and used to falsely obtain new Apple iPhones.

Calls were made to firm Hutchison 3G by someone purporting to be genuine customers arranging a phone upgrade.

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An address would be supplied for the delivery of the phones, where they would be picked up and sold on for a profit.

Both Abedin and Miah provided addresses where the iPhones could be delivered.

Heather Chamberlin, prosecuting, said: "They each provided addresses for the delivery of the iPhones – seven altogether, with a value of £4,200. Two were later recovered."

The court heard Abedin gave the address of his girlfriend's uncle, Wayne Bamford, in Lynmouth Grove, Chell, and a phone was delivered there in August 2010. A second one was delivered the next day.

Mr Bamford, who was unaware of the scam, became suspicious and would not hand the phones over. Instead, he took them to the police.

Abedin, of Woodrow Way, Chesterton, had also arranged for a friend of his girlfriend's to take delivery of a phone, offering her £10 to do so.

The court heard Miah, of Chief Street, Oldham, was working at an Indian restaurant in Nantwich at the time of the offence, and had offered Abedin £1,000 to get 10 addresses.

Miah pleaded guilty to five counts of theft, while his nephew admitted two charges of concealing criminal property.

Jason Holt, representing Abedin, said his client had believed his uncle was setting up a genuine business at first.

"He accepts latterly he was suspicious when he was offered money, which he never received.

"This offence comes from in part misguided loyalty, and in part an opportunity to make easy money.

"He puts his future career on the line with these convictions. He has run up a debt of £21,000 to study law and now without any certainty as to whether he can continue."

David Birrill, representing Miah, said his client was about to be married in Bangladesh.

He added: "He is a responsible young man who acts as a carer for his younger brother.

"He knows how serious this is and he is thoroughly ashamed."

Recorder William Edis QC handed each defendant a 12-month community order.

Miah also received a nine-month supervision order, must complete 240 hours unpaid work and pay £2,600 compensation. Abedin must do 190 hours unpaid work.

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  • Profile image for begorrah

    by begorrah

    Sunday, June 24 2012, 11:06AM

    “"David Birrill, representing Miah, said his client was about to be married in Bangladesh" I wonder if he has told the parents of his bride to be that he now has a criminal conviction, and a damaged reputation? Also, if he is acting carer for his younger brother should not social services be involved?”

  • Profile image for mykidsfuture

    by mykidsfuture

    Tuesday, June 19 2012, 10:34PM

    “WilkesyJ Did those gangs SELL the girls to other men for sex NO! Did they deliberately target another race NO! Read whats written then make your comments, if you are able.

    Mr Reasonable, interesting name by the way, no I sharn't say I have loads of black friends, but I have fought alongside them, and oh nearly forgot my wife is a foreign national you imbacile. And what has the blacks got to do with my original post; nothing. You mention it probably because you too, have not read what is written, stating facts is not being racist. To discriminate against someone because of their race (not their actions) or to deliberately put a race down because they are a different race to yourself, that is being racist. It is people like you and WilkesyJ that have destroyed this country, accusing everyone that has based their own opinions on evidence that they have come across instead of accepting the fact that some cultures are more barbaric that ours and still partake in practices what we would consider to be uncivalized. That does not make someone racist. If you are right however, why are more and more countries including some religous sects turning their backs on so called multiculturism?, including Australia, France, Holland and part of the Catholic Church for starters. I'll tell you, because it can't work. One culture always will take presidence. We in England unfortunately have decided to forfeit our history, heritage and the lives of millions to keep this country free and English, to freely give it away to every other nationality over the indigenous population. We are now the laughing stock of the World because we have given our once great country away, it is no wonder that the European Parliment won't take Cameron seriously.
    The English are now a race without a country, I bet you are really proud,tell me did the holocaust really take place, or do you deny that too.”

  • Profile image for E_D_Wivens

    by E_D_Wivens

    Tuesday, June 19 2012, 6:19PM

    “"If you really believe that the colour of your skin has a bearing on your criminal tendencies, then you're pretty naive."

    Well, it certainly had a great relevance to the Pakistani paedophile gangs in the North-West until recently, didn't it? In fact, it was, for them, the whole point; they didn't groom and rape any girls from their own ethnic group, did they? Did you read about the latest controversy regarding Sikh4AWeek? And if that still doesn't convince you, I suggest that you spend some time in one of the many areas of East London where whites or integrated immigrants are in a minority these days, or better still, in Philadephia or southern/eastern Los Angeles, and you might just change your mind regarding who is being naive.”

  • Profile image for MrReasonable

    by MrReasonable

    Tuesday, June 19 2012, 5:02PM

    “mykidfuture,

    By saying 'im not racist or the comment is not meant to be racist makes it no less a racist comment. No doubt you would defend yourself with, Ive got lots of black friends! Get a life!”

  • Profile image for MrReasonable

    by MrReasonable

    Tuesday, June 19 2012, 4:59PM

    “E_D-Wivens

    Clearly you have money to burn complaining about the lack of prison sentence again... no doubt you would be down the pub if he had gone to prison moaning about how much you are paying to keep him, that is if you have a job!”

  • Profile image for Notanumber

    by Notanumber

    Tuesday, June 19 2012, 1:18PM

    “errrr... most burglaries are carried out by white males. Just take a look at some of the headlines on this very site. In any case a criminal is a criminal whatever colour or race and should be dealt with severely unlike they are currently. Make the punishment just that, punishment not an invite to a holiday camp. In this time of austerity, let 'em have some themselves. Fear of going back inside should be the deterent not a wishy-washy community order.”

  • Profile image for mabazaritchie

    by mabazaritchie

    Tuesday, June 19 2012, 12:24PM

    “Me thinks he will make a great lawyer one day.”

  • Profile image for WilkesyJ

    by WilkesyJ

    Tuesday, June 19 2012, 11:57AM

    “The recent international raids on organised paedophile gangs? A few years ago, a similar police operation (Operation Orr), the scandal in the Catholic Church? Oh, yeah and 10 years experience working in the Criminal Justice System. If you really believe that the colour of your skin has a bearing on your criminal tendencies, then you're pretty naive. It probably just makes you feel better about yourself to blame a particular group for the problems you see.”

  • Profile image for mykidsfuture

    by mykidsfuture

    Monday, June 18 2012, 9:21PM

    “WilkesyJ
    As my post states, my comments are based on recent stories. But if you want to take it further, then I will. When was the last case brought forward regarding a WHITE group of men using children for sex in an organised manner and often for money. I can tell you, there hasn't been one. And as far as the fraud of mobile phones go, the low level fraud such as this case, does tend to be Pakistani prominent. They are facts. Yes White people have been involved in fraud, but those frauds tend to be somewhat more sophisicated, thought out and required a great deal of planning and brain power that these low level, get money quick scam. Why do people like you try to cover up the facts by stating that white people do the same. When in fact, if you look into the crimes, they are NOT the same.”

  • Profile image for WilkesyJ

    by WilkesyJ

    Sunday, June 17 2012, 8:49PM

    “Mykidsfuture....do you actually believe that white people are less likely to commit fraud/paedophilia? Really?”

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