Elizabeth Ann Critchley sentenced to one year in jail
Critchley has a criminal record that spans 30 years
A Nova Scotia woman with more than 120 prior criminal convictions on her record was sentenced Friday in a Charlottetown court to a year in jail for defrauding an Island couple of $3,300.
Elizabeth Ann Critchley, a resident of Kentville, Nova Scotia, has a criminal record that spans 30 years and includes multiple stints in federal prison.
She pleaded guilty to one count of fraud earlier this year in a case in which she defrauded a low-income Charlottetown couple.
Critchley met the couple through a mutual friend and the victims cashed cheques Critchley had written and then handed the cash over to her. When the cheques bounced, they were left on the hook.
Critchley also used their debit card with the PIN number they supplied on the promise they'd receive television sets and other expensive goods in return.
Today in court, Critchley's defence lawyer argued it was all part of a plan to defraud the bank, not the Island couple. He also argued Critchley didn't properly consult her trial lawyer before pleading guilty.
Judge Nancy Orr rejected this argument, saying Critchley is well acquainted with the legal system and clearly knows what fraud is.
Critchley was also sentenced to two years of probation, 50 hours of community service and has been ordered to pay the money back to the Island couple.
The couple — who is struggling financially — will have to get in line for the cash. The Crown says Critchley owes $28,000 in unpaid restitution from her previous fraud convictions.