A CON MAN who swindled a building society in Hereford out of £9,000 using a false passport was caught when police stopped his car for having a faulty taillight, a court was told.

James Lamb, 54, gave officers a false name but when his details didn't check a search revealed the money.

Lamb was jailed for two years at Guildford Crown Court last Friday after a judge heard that he had also been caught red-handed trying a similar scam to con a bank service card from a branch of the NatWest in Dorking, Surrey.

Lamb, of Highbury, London, admitted obtaining money by deception, two charges of using a false instrument and another of possessing a false instrument.

Hannah Jones, prosecuting, said Lamb had phoned the Halifax Building Society HQ asking for £9,000 to be ready when he passed through Hereford last November.

"He claimed to be James Arthur Sexton, showed a passport with his photograph and appeared to the cashier to be genuine.

"He also had a full insurance portfolio for Mr Sexton and was able to answer the society's security questions," said Miss Jones.

The money was handed over and Lamb left with two other men in a car, stopping to fill up on petrol using one of the £50 notes.

A police officer followed and stopped the car having spotted its faulty taillight. Lamb gave his name as Alan Hutchings, but officers found the passport, Halifax account books and insurance details relating to James Sexton.

The money was found when the three men were searched.

Detectives discovered the passport had been stolen earlier, the name had been altered to Sexton and Lamb's photo inserted.

The court heard Lamb had a long history of convictions for fraud, theft, forgery and deception.

Shenaz Muzaffer, defending, said Lamb, with eight children and six grandchildren was unemployed and had been desperate for money.

Lamb, she said, was receiving threats from other parties involved in the enterprise.

Mr Recorder Brock said Lamb was a foot soldier who took the risks to be caught in the process.