TWO Romanian men have been handed suspended jail sentences after they placed a card skimming device in a cash machine.
Nicolae Mereacre, aged 35, and Luri Gingota, also known as Ivan Mimalache, were stopped by police who saw them acting suspiciously near Asda, Fenton, on April 24.
Prosecutor Graham Russell told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court a card skimmer was discovered by staff at Asda, Fenton, and the duty manager found a card reader on the front of the machine.
Mr Russell said: “At 12.15am police spotted a vehicle on Victoria Road, Fenton, and noticed the two occupants were acting suspiciously. Mereacre was the driver. Gingota was the passenger. Police searched the vehicle and found 14 blue health lottery playing cards which appeared to be similar to cut up cards in the device.