TWO Kidderminster men - nicknamed the bookman and bagman for their roles in a £50,000 scam to con stores out of cash - have been jailed at Worcester Crown Court.

They were part of a gang which obtained goods using stolen cheque books and then returned them to a different outlet in another town to get illegal refunds.

Clothing "purchased" at a store in Worcester, for example, would be returned to a branch in the same chain in Cardiff to avoid arousing suspicion, said prosecutor Nigel Reader.

Ashley Prescott, known as "the bookman" because he was in charge of the cheque books, told police they made up to £50,000 in 10 months.

The man he recruited, Matthew Cox - dubbed "the bagman" - was responsible for returning some of the goods.

Prescott, 26, of Bennett Street, was jailed for four years. Cox, 21, of Greatfield Road, was sentenced to 12 months. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain goods by deception.

Mr Reader said each stolen cheque book - some passed on by a dishonest postman - made up to £2,000 for the gang on items bought.

Prescott used about 20 stolen cheque books and stolen credit cards to authorise the cheques.

The defendants were first arrested on May 23 last year when police found two stolen bank cards in their car. They refused to answer police questions - but carried on with the scam after being released.

On October 10 they were arrested again but this time confessed.

Mr Reader said the gang mainly targeted shops which had less stringent security checks. Prescott named others in interviews including the "silent boss".

Cox was responsible for returning goods to shops in Bristol and Kidderminster and collecting the refunds.

Other men had been questioned by police but none had been brought to court.

Anthony Potter, for Prescott, said the former Royal Navy aircraft mechanic agreed to take part because of substantial debts.

He had been taken down an alley and given a choice to work for the gang or be beaten up.

He had not revealed his crime to his parents, both of whom were regional directors of national companies.

Nigel Stelling, for Cox - a former postman - said gambling debts had led to his downfall but he had made minimal profits from the con.