Student stole identities to obtain loans

Najma Kaobo-Bizi-Rhi, aged 18, of Lloyd Street, Wednesbury, pleaded guilty at Sandwell Magistrates Court yesterday to to four counts of fraud. Mrs Jaz Sangha, prosecuting, said the defendant posed as other women to make £1,000 by producing bogus bank cards and fake payslips.

She obtained £250 loans at MoneyShops in Wolverhampton, Dudley and Bearwood, before she was caught in Wednesbury. The fraudster's deceptions in Wolverhampton and Dudley were on the same day.

The court heard her false papers were given to her by a man who took the lion's share of each loan and allowed her to keep £50 each time. Kaobo-Bizi-Rhi was given a 12-month community order and told to carry out 150 hours unpaid work, as well as pay £750 compensation. She was also made subject to six months' supervision.

Mrs Sangha added: "She produced bank cards and pay slips with different details. The fraud came to light after police were called to Moneyshop. She had successfully obtained three loans. Each application involved photos being taken so she could be identified from those.

"She said in police interview the papers came from an Asian male she met near Greggs in Dudley but declined to give more details about him such as what car he drove." The court was told the social care student was full of remorse for her actions, which were prompted by money troubles. Mr Umar Madni, defending, said she accepted it might affect her career prospects.

He added: "She regrets this profusely. She met a man who knew she had money troubles."

After the first two offences, he applied psychological pressure on her to continue, he added.

Money troubles came about because Kaobo-Bizi-Rhi was on income support, and alone in this country having moved from Congo in 2006. Her father lives in Switzerland, Mr Madni said.

She admitted pretending to be a Fanny Joyabad in Wolverhampton, a Kalunga Shawcross in Dudley, a Gracia Makoba in Bearwood and a Gloria Dawson when caught in Wednesbury.

The college was unavailable for comment.