THE holder of a bank account was shocked to discover his £28,600 savings had been withdrawn by a conman.

Durham Crown Court heard the money was transferred to an account set up in his name using a false passport and a bogus power bill.

All the funds were then withdrawn from the new account within four days of it being opened in July 2002.

The court was told the victim, a man from the Darlington area, was oblivious of the transactions.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said police were alerted when the victim made inquiries with the Abbey National bank after receiving a balance stating his account was £500 overdrawn.

The investigation led to the arrest of a 36-year-old London man, Barrant Dhue, last July.

He came before the court on Friday facing seven charges relating to the opening of the account and the withdrawal of £29,100.

Dhue pleaded guilty to all the charges, two of using a false instrument -the fake passport and bill -to open the account, and five of obtaining a money transfer by deception.

Mr Newcombe said Dhue received a suspended nine-month prison sentence at Swindon Crown Court for a similar fraud last year.

He said the loser in the latest case was the Abbey National, which has reimbursed the victim the full amount.

Sentence was adjourned by Judge Michael Carlidge pending probation reports.

The single father was bailed to an address in Catford, London, to return for sentence on February 6.