A FINANCIAL adviser forged his wife's signature on a mortgage application form to pay off credit card debts.

Marc Smith re-mortgaged their home for £54,000, signing both their names after they had split up, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Smith, aged 45, of James Road, Kidderminster, who pleaded guilty to two charges of forgery, was ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work for the community.

Prosecutor Jackie Rogers said Smith was working as an independent mortgage broker when he filled in the form in 2000. His offence was not revealed until October last year after a default in mortgage repayments.

The house had since been re-possessed and sold. Mrs Smith claimed she had lost £7,000 equity in the property and was considering civil action.

Miss Rogers said: "He forged her signature for expediency. He wanted to take advantage of a mortgage offer open for a limited period."

Christopher O'Gorman, defending, said the couple had since divorced. Smith had a new partner and was now working as a driver.

Some of the money from the re-mortgage had been used to finance his business.

In addition to credit card debts, money had also been used to meet domestic outgoings.

"This was a terrible and very expensive mistake he made," said Mr O'Gorman. "He felt he was doing nobody harm by signing the document."

He was now facing bankruptcy.

Recorder James Burbidge QC said he was satisfied that Smith was in debt, had the emotional over-ride of a failing marriage and saw it as a straightforward way of solving his debts.

"You have lost your good name in a significant act of dishonesty," he told Smith.

But he said to his credit Smith had not abused his position as a mortgage broker to commit other offences.