Internet pay slip used in £14k Audi fraud

A driver forged a pay slip to get a £14,000 Audi on finance at a Black Country showroom, a court was told.

Mark Renenhan, aged 25, downloaded a wage slip from the internet to convince the dealership he could afford the motor.

He secured a loan of £14,266 from a finance company in October, 2007, for the car - but never a paid a penny towards it, the town's magistrates heard.

The money for the Audi came from Future Car Finance, based in Bloxwich Road, Walsall.

An investigation was launched after the Audi was involved in a crash in 2008.

The occupant left the scene and was never caught, but a document with Renenhan's name was discovered inside the car.

Police caught up with him when he was stopped for another matter in April this year.

Mrs Maggie Meakin, prosecuting, said: "No payment was ever made on the vehicle and the finance company investigated the details he produced. It came to light that the pay slip was false."

Renenhan, of Overton Grove, Acocks Green, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to fraud.

When interviewed by police, the defendant, now a Bible college student and church volunteer, told officers he was previously self-employed and had been running Med Moves.

Mr Ranjit Sandhu, defending, said: "He is of previous good character. The car was recovered.

"At no time was he involved in an accident. The vehicle was repossessed while parked on his drive. It was not sophisticated.

"He accepts he went on the internet and printed off wage slips. He was acting by himself."

He was given unconditional bail and the matter adjourned until June 21 for reports.