Watchful staff end spree with a stolen card

A US tourist's $45,000 shopping spree ended when a shop assistant realised his credit card belonged to a woman.

Company manager Meng Wei, 36, had done a day's shopping in Mongkok with the stolen card before being caught in Central, the District Court heard.

Meng had sprayed two of the staff with a can of self-defence aerosol in an attempt to stop them chasing after him.

He pleaded guilty to theft, three charges of obtaining property by deception, one of attempting to obtain property by deception and another of discharging arms in a manner likely to injure.

Judge Donald Christie jailed Meng for 18 months.

The court was told the defendant arrived in Hong Kong in April and picked up the credit card, belonging to Angela Hui Yuk-ling, at the airport.