A MAN from Kidderminster has been jailed after police uncovered an £80,000 swindle to obtain goods by using the details of elderly hospital patients.

Hereford Crown Court heard some of the goods were recovered from Karl Harper's home in Ismere Way.

His accomplice Brian Wells got his ex-wife Patricia to supply him with an admissions book from the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, where she worked as an auxiliary nurse.

Bogus bank accounts were then opened in names taken from the book and applications were supported by personal details like mother's maiden names and fake documents including gas and electricity bills.

The victims' addresses were changed on bank accounts to premises where the plotters could gain access and some were gleaned from house auction adverts.

Loans obtained fraudulently were paid into the accounts and used to buy goods at supermarkets and DIY stores, said prosecutor William Rickarby.

About 60 victims lost goods until police put the couple under surveillance and saw a fake cheque being passed in a supermarket.

They were arrested a day later at the home they still shared - despite being divorced - in Warwick Highway, Redditch.

Brian Wells, 62, now of Beoley Road, Redditch, was jailed for three and a half years. Harper, 36, was jailed for three years and nine months. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain goods by deception before the trial of Patricia Wells, 47,of Garway Close, Redditch.

She was convicted of a similar offence and was given a 200 hours community order.

Patricia Wells gave evidence that she copied names from the admissions book while at work to be photocopied by her ex-husband - but said she did not know why he wanted it.

She denied any knowledge of dodgy goods stored in the garage.

Recorder Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC made a restitution order of £7,384 to the Prudential and Cooperative banks from money seized from the defendants by police.