A SOUTHAMPTON man used the bank cards of a murder victim and pawned a piece of his sentimental family jewellery in the days following his killing.

Karl Fawcett was given the bank cards of murdered Gerald Pragnell by his killer Tommy Scott, who had strangled the 66-year-old and dumped his body in a wooded area of Southampton Common.

Along with co-defendant Charlotte Glen, Fawcett used Mr Pragnell’s bank cards to splash out on cigarettes, alcohol and scratch cards.

The 36-year-old also pawned Mr Pragnell’s signet ring – said by the deceased’s family to have “sentimental value” – for just £23.

Fawcett was given a suspended sentence during an appearance at Southampton Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard how Fawcett, a long-term drug user, was given the bank cards and ring by Scott following his murder of Mr Pragnell – whose body was found on the Common, near to Cemetery Road, on Saturday, November 3.

Fawcett used the cards to make contactless payments on six occasions at various shops and petrol stations in Southampton on November 1.

Prosecuting, Rachel Standish said both he and Glen would buy items such as alcohol and cigarettes, all under the £30 limit contactless payment limit.

She added that if a transaction was declined on one card, the pair would attempt to use another of Mr Pragnell’s cards to make the payment.

In total, Fawcett spent more than £130 on Mr Pragnell’s bank cards.

Ms Standish said Fawcett was first arrested as part of the murder investigation into Mr Pragnell’s death, but told police in interview that he had no knowledge of the killing.

He said that Scott had given him the cards and the ring while sitting in Mr Pragnell’s Mercedes – which Scott had stolen.

Fawcett said Scott told him the items had been stolen from one of his relatives.

Ms Standish said: “When he got in the car with Scott, he gave him the cards and said they were his uncle’s who was away for 10 days.

“He also gave him a signet ring belonging to Mr Pragnell which he pawned for £23.

“It had sentimental value to his daughter.”

Ms Standish added: “What aggravates these offences is the close proximity to the murder of Mr Pragnell. However, it is the position of the Crown Prosecution Service that he did not know about it.

“But it is very clear he did not pose any question as to where the cards came from.”

In mitigation, Oliver O’Connor said Fawcett had made it “fundamentally clear” in his police interview that he did not know about the true origins of the stolen cards and ring.

Mr O’Connor said Fawcett had been misled by Scott, who he had previously considered a friend.

He added: “He (Fawcett) would never ever have used those cards or pawned that ring had he known the situation.”

Mr O’Connor described Fawcett, of Southampton Street, Southampton, as a “vulnerable” man, who had been addicted to heroin and crack cocaine for almost 20 years.

Fawcett, who pleaded guilty to six counts of card fraud and one count of handling stolen goods, was given a 24-week sentence by magistrates, suspended for 18 months.

Co-defendant Glen, also of Southampton Street, was jailed for 26 weeks at a separate hearing in February, after pleading guilty to 10 counts of fraud by false representation.

She also pleaded guilty to a separate count of theft of alcohol from Sainsbury’s in Southampton and breaching a community order, made after she was convicted for theft in September last year.

Tommy Scott, 34, was sentenced to life in prison last month for the murder of Mr Pragnell.

Scott must serve a minimum of 27 years.

In sentencing, Judge Keith Cutler stressed although Scott must serve at least 27 years, he added “you may never be released”.