A BOYFRIEND who stole £1,400 from his girlfriend’s bank account has been jailed.

James Lachowicz, aged 22, borrowed Corrie Davies’ debit card to do some shopping for the University of Bolton student.

But he went on to take the card on seven occasions and withdrew money without her knowledge.

She noticed transactions on her bank statement that she had not made, and Lachowicz was caught on CCTV using her card to buy a £325 mobile phone.

The pair met in Doncaster and started a relationship in November last year.

Miss Davies noticed the irregularities in January.

Bolton Crown Court heard that Lachowicz has a previous conviction, and was in breach of a suspended sentence when he committed these offences.

The thief targeted a former girlfriend and stole jewellery and DVDs from her flat, and withdrew £70 from her bank account when she was in hospital.

He also stole items from a friend’s parents’ house when he was staying with them.

Amos Waldman, defending, told the court that Lachowicz was stealing the money to fund a gambling addiction.

He said: “He is extremely remorseful and wishes to pay her back. It has been identified as a breach of trust and I cannot dispute that.”

Lachowicz, of North Street, Doncaster, pleaded guilty to seven counts of theft and one count of fraud and he was jailed for a total of seven months.

Judge Martin Allweis said: “You chose your victim, you targeted your partner.

“They were easy prey because they trusted you and hardly thought that you would be taking money or property.

“Your offending is mean. I cannot think of many meaner than stealing from your girlfriend when she has little money.”

After the court case, Miss Davies, aged 20, said: “I hoped he would get a longer sentence as he deserves a lot more. Seven months won’t teach him a lesson.

“It’s disgusting that he did this and I don’t want him to do it again to someone else.”