A 25-YEAR-OLD man obtained computers and audio visual equipment worth thousands of pounds using a forged gas bill to obtain credit.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Mohsin Umerji and an accomplice were able to walk out of the shops with the equipment after producing the bill in the name of William Clark.

And when police seized Umerji's computer, they found the gas bill had been scanned into the machine along with numerous insurance and other documents.

"The police have been looking closely at the contents of that computer and, while there are no charges as a result, they would ask that it be confiscated," said Joanne Close, prosecuting.

Umerji, 25, of Altom Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to obtaining a television, laptop computer and notebook kit worth £1,598 from Currys and a computer and accessories from Cornfold by deception.

He asked for three offences to be taken into consideration involving Commett, Power House and Soft Cell Computers and was remanded on bail until April 29 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Miss Close said that in all cases an arrangement to purchase on a credit agreement had been reached and the same utility bill produced as proof of identification.