Man accused of £28,000 smartphone and tablet scam

A man is to go on trial in Belfast accused of carrying out a £28,000 (36,000) smartphone and tablet scam.

David Parry (25) faces 17 counts of fraud by abuse of his position within telecommunication firm Vodafone. He is alleged to have dishonestly abused a role in the company by placing orders for iPhones, iPads and Samsung devices with the intention of making gains for himself.

The alleged offences occurred in the city over a three-month period last year.

Listed among the charges is one order for three iPhones and three iPads valued at just over £2,900 and another for three Samsung phones worth £1,257. All but three of the counts involve quantities of devices with a value in excess of £1,000.

No further details of the alleged offences were disclosed as Mr Parry, with an address at Birch Road, Headley Down in Bordon, Hampshire, appeared before Belfast Magistrates Court for preliminary enquiry proceedings.

District Judge Fiona Bagnall backed prosecution submissions that he has a case to answer. She returned the accused for trial at Belfast Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Parry was released on his own bail of £500 until that hearing gets under way.