A THIEF searched petrol stations and supermarkets for discarded credit card receipts to use in a shopping scam, a court was told yesterday.

Kristian Weightman, 28, admitted that credit details were used to obtain goods from a Home Shopping television channel. The costs were charged to the genuine cardholders, and the goods were quickly sold on, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Weightman was also involved in drawing cash with altered benefit books from rural post offices, said John Wilson, prosecuting, for the Department of Social Security (DSS).

Although some books belonged to women, they were altered so that Weightman could sign for cash at up to £500 a time. He targeted the post offices at Hinderwell and Skelton Green, and although security cameras were installed, he later denied he was the customer, said Mr Wilson. But finally he admitted obtaining £2,679 and attempting to obtain another £505.

Mr Wilson said in the Home Shopping offences Weightman even ordered flowers.

Deborah Sherwin, defending, said that Weightman was a foot soldier for a cousin who was jailed previously for the Home Shopping offences.

The DSS offences began within a week of his release from a three-year prison sentence, said Judge Peter Bowers.

Weightman, of Abingdon Road, Easington, Saltburn, was jailed for two years yesterday after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain property by deception and conspiracy to defraud the DSS.