A 44-year-old man has admitted nine counts of fraud after he used a woman’s identity to set up fake accounts with online stores.

David John Charles used the woman’s name after agreeing to a year-long house swap with her.

He then bought designer clothes, television sets, electrical goods and a mattress.

Charles had been paying off the accounts gradually but there was still said to be an outstanding balance of £2,500.

He pleaded guilty to nine counts of fraud by false representation and will be sentenced on August 17 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecuting advocate Hazel Carroon told the court that Charles had arranged a house swap with the woman in August 2019.

But in September 2020 she was told by an employer that a credit check has shown outstanding balances with several online stores and this had affected her credit score.

Accounts had been opened fraudulently in her name with Jacamo, JD Williams, Fashion World, Studio Retail Limited, Freemans, Look Again, Bon Prix, Curvissa, and Home Retail Group Card Services Limited.

Charles, of Hutchinson Square, Douglas, said that he had first tried to open the accounts in his own name but had been refused due to his credit score so he had then used the woman’s name.

credit cards

He was also said to have tried to get credit cards in her name but had been successful in getting only one, with Argos, which he had never used.

The accounts were said to have a random address in Dundee but all the goods had been delivered to Keppel Road where Charles was living at the time.

On November 30 he was arrested and a large number of the items were found in his home.

When interviewed by police he admitted all the offences saying he thought the woman was a banker and that they had swapped houses for one year.

He said he had used her name after his own was declined and he had also used a fake phone number and email address.

Charles told police he was unsure how many accounts he had put her name on but said it was ’maybe four or five’.

The court heard that he has no previous convictions.

Ms Carroon said that the case was suitable for summary court sentencing bearing in mind the amount outstanding was £2,500.

Defence advocate Sara-Jayne Dodge asked for a probation report to be prepared before sentencing.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes accepted jurisdiction and ordered that the report consider all sentencing options, including custody.

Bail was granted in the sum of £500 with conditions to reside at his home address, contact probation, and not leave the island without court consent.