A SHOCKED Clevedon father has been left with a bill topping £3,700 after his son mistakenly bought numerous virtual items while gaming on his iPad.

Cameron Crossan has only owned the Apple tablet computer since December after he and other pupils at Clevedon School were bought them to aid them in class.

As well as using it for school work, he also downloaded a number of free children’s games using Apple’s online iTunes service.

However, the 13-year-old was unaware that, while playing, he was buying virtual items within the games which were charged to his dad Doug’s credit card. The card details had been logged on iTunes after Mr Crossan had previously bought a music album.

The items can be bought to give gamers a better chance of winning and included a virtual chest of gold coins which cost Mr Crossan a whopping £77.

The discovery was only made when the credit card company contacted Mr Crossan, a police officer, after he cancelled the direct debit for the card, which he thought was clear.

He said: “They asked why I had stopped paying seeing as I owed them more than £3,000. When I looked at the bill I realised it had started when Cameron got his iPad.

“None of us had any knowledge of what was happening as there was no indication in the game that he was being charged for any of the clicks made within it.

“He innocently thought that, because it was advertised as a free game, the clicks would not cost anything.

“I had seen other people had been given refunds by Apple and assumed it would do the same for us.

“Apple has refused by saying the sale on iTunes is final and there will be no refund. How can that be right or fair under the circumstances?

“Apple is just laughing all the way to the bank.

“The credit card company said if I wanted to pursue it I would have to report my son for fraud.

“I have called its bluff on that one and reported him to Action Fraudline.

“I will pursue this in the hope of getting the money back as well as to get compensation for the stress it has caused.”

The Times contacted Apple for a statement but a response has not been received.