Nine-month jail sentence for Pilbara credit card fraudster

A Hedland man is currently serving a nine-month prison sentence after being found guilty of 59 fraud-related charges.

Christopher Googe was transferred to Roebourne Prison after pleading guilty to gains benefit by fraud charges last month.

The 26-year-old used lost or stolen bank cards at a number of Hedland businesses and racked up almost $10,000 in offences.

South Hedland police volume crime team co-ordinator Al Keogh said Googe's crimes had affected a large number of people in the community.

He said police initiated the investigation after a substantial number of bank cards were reported stolen during December and January.

"Stolen cards were fraudulently used at a large number of retail shops in the South Hedland area," he said.

"This commenced a large scale investigation by South Hedland Police, involving all retail outlets, a large amount of victims and numerous banking institutions."

Sergeant Keogh said Googe's imprisonment was a positive result for police and the community.