A WOMAN obtained more than £70,000 by forging her husband's signature on loan agreements and credit card applications.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Christine Helen Crossley's marriage was in the "death throes" when she embarked on her cross-county trail of deception.

She completed applications at banks in Leyland, Penwortham, Blackburn and Oswaldtwistle over a seven-month period.

And the court heard her husband was unaware of the accounts until they separated and he started to be chased for payment.

Crossley, 40, of Swain Fold, Edward Street, Great Harwood, pleaded guilty to six charges. They were: obtaining £15,000 from Lloyds TSB in Leyland by deceptively claiming that her husband had signed a document; obtaining £15,000 from Lloyds TSB in Oswaldtwistle; £7,500 from Lloyds TSB in Penwortham; £25,000 from Direct Line; £15,000 from Lloyds TSB in Blackburn; and one charge of using a credit card agreement knowing it to be false involving Lloyds TSB in Leyland. A charge involving the West Yorkshire building Society was withdrawn.

Crossley was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence.

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, said Crossley was of previous good character. She and her husband were married for four years and while they were still living together the relationship ended.

"It was in the death throes when she began to apply for loans in her husband's name and forged his signature on a number of applications for loans and credit cards," said Mr Gaffney.

"All the money involved in these charges remains outstanding and inquiries are being made to try and find out where it has gone.

"The Crown says these were deliberate acts on a number of occasions involving large sums of money and, as such, well beyond your powers of compensation and sentence," added Mr Gaffney.

John Dewhurst, defending, said it appeared there had been a fair degree of financial mis-management and inability to control the budget.

"One loan has been taken out to pay off another," said Mr Dewhurst. "We accept that as far as compensation is concerned the sums are beyond this court's remit."