Norfolk Man Defrauds £91,000 Using Mother’s Laptop

Thomas Matthews, 27, has been jailed for four years at Norwich Crown Court after admitting multiple fraud offences. He used his mother’s laptop to place high-value orders with businesses. Matthews lives in Newton Flotman and has cerebral palsy.

How the scheme operated

The offending took place between June 2022 and November 2025. At least ten firms were targeted during that period.

The Norfolk man defrauded firms of about £91,000 using his mother’s laptop. Prosecutors put the total loss at £91,709.

Companies hit included Exertis UK, Insight UK and Kite Packaging. Matthews frequently used other people’s details to place orders. He also arranged for goods to be delivered to his own address.

Deception methods

Investigators found Matthews posed as senior executives. He created convincing false documentation to support the orders. Officers said the operation showed careful planning over a sustained period.

Charges and sentence

Matthews admitted 12 counts of fraud. He also pleaded guilty to threatening to destroy property linked to a female victim.

Four further fraud offences were taken into consideration by the court. Judge Anthony Bate noted the large number of victims and the lengthy nature of the offending.

Court comments and restrictions

The judge accepted Matthews showed remorse and had pleaded guilty. He said the case nonetheless crossed the custody threshold by some distance.

Matthews was made subject to a four-year restraining order. The order bans him from contacting two victims directly or indirectly.

Mitigation and policing response

Martin Ivory, defending, asked the court to consider Matthews’ age and guilty pleas. He said a relationship breakdown had damaged the defendant’s mental health. Matthews was unemployed at the time of the offences.

Police described the fraud as complex. PC Lisa Wright said the offender went to great lengths to deceive firms. She added the sentence underlines that impersonation and forgery attract robust action.

This report was produced for Filmogaz.com.