Boy runs up £2,000 bill - playing games on his grandad's iPad (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Redcar lad makes biggest accidental purchase in iTunes history

8:30am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News Exclusive By Graeme Hetherington

A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy used his grandfather’s iPad to spend his £2,000 savings on furnishing his Tiny Monsters’ Island in the biggest accidental purchase in iTunes history.

Will Smith’s mischief was only brought to light when his grandmother’s card was declined in Tesco and the fraud squad contacted his grandfather.

And while seemingly showing signs of remorse, it turns out the youngster’s tears were not for the loss of his grandfather’s savings, but instead because he will not get to fight the dark monster on level 26.

Over and over again he bought baskets of food and furnishings priced at £70 each and bought his way through the levels in what is the single biggest accidental purchase ever made from the iTunes store.

Fortunately, the money has been returned and Will’s grandfather, Barry Slater, has set a more secure password which he hasn’t divulged to the technologically superior six-year-old.

Drug and alcohol worker Mr Slater, 55, said: “I just couldn’t believe it when my wife said the card had been declined by Tesco. I said it can’t be right because I’ve got my savings in that account.

“When it turned out that Will had spent £2,000 on Tiny Monsters apps, to say I was shocked would be a massive understatement.

“I must have synced my credit card up with the app store and he has just been pressing buttons buying baskets of food and coins for his tiny monsters.

“I couldn’t believe how easy it was for kids to buy things on there. It just shows how careful you need to be. He is only six – I could never imagine he would be able to run up a twogrand bill.”

After printing out all of his credit card receipts and having his account suspended, Will’s grandfather was given a full refund by Apple.

Will’s parents, Billy, a support worker, and Nicola, live in Redcar , east Cleveland, with Will and brother Kieron, two. Mrs Smith said: “He still doesn’t really understand just how much money he has got through and was really upset that he had to give all of his food and coins back.”