An international con artist who put on a French accent and forged the signature of a Frenchman he had befriended in a Galway hostel to obtain €1,150 from the victim's bank and post office accounts was sentenced to one year in prison yesterday.
Englishman David Johnstone (41), no fixed abode, who has previous convictions including ones for fraud, forgery and impersonation in three US states, Canada and England, pleaded guilty at Galway District Court to seven counts of fraud, including the forgery of Didier le Cacherel's signature to withdraw €100 on three separate dates from the Frenchman's post office savings book between June 16th and 18th last. He also pleaded guilty to taking €850 from Mr Le Cacherel's bank account on three separate dates between June 13th and 15th.
Garda Fergus Gaughan, who investigated the matter, told the court that Johnstone pretended to befriend the Frenchman, who has imperfect English and is hard of hearing, by offering to help him.