Florist jailed for stealing from US customer, and for social welfare fraud

Gardaí investigating unauthorised card payments put through the man's business discovered he had also fraudulently claimed pandemic unemployment payments

Arthur Batistis, aged 51, of Thomas Hand St, Skerries, Co Dublin, was given a 10-month prison sentence for theft and welfare fraud. Picture: Irish Photo Desk

A florist who stole $1,000 (€934) from an American woman after he recorded her card details has been jailed for theft and social welfare fraud.

Arthur Batistis, 51, of Thomas Hand St, Skerries, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft, and dishonestly by deception inducing the Department of Social Protection to pay both jobseeker’s allowance and the pandemic unemployment payment on dates between January and May 2022.