A TEENAGE girl was used as a "pawn" by more sophisticated criminals who had cloned documents and obtained personal details which could be used to get credit, a court has heard.

Blackburn magistrates were told the girl had successfully obtained two computers using the bogus documents but was caught when she returned to collect a third which had been out of stock when she signed the agreement.

Susan Proctor, 18, of Agate Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to obtaining two lap-top computers worth £1,600 by deception from Currys and obtaining a £1,500 computer by deception from SoftCell computers.

Phillipa White, prosecuting, said Proctor had first gone into SoftCell where she produced a British Gas bill and a Halifax bank card in the name of Nicola Kean of Reading.

She was also able to give personal details of Miss Kean including her date of birth and employment details and left the shop with a £1,600 computer.

The following day she repeated the deception at Curry's and signed credit agreements for two computers. There was only one in stock and arrangements were made for her to collect the other one three days later.

Miss White said in the meantime the credit company realised the situation and when Proctor returned the police were waiting to arrest her.

Kevin Preston, defending, said Proctor was an individual who had been used. She had told police that she had found the bill and the card but that was not true.

"They were given to her with specific instructions," said Mr Preston. "They were given to her by people who are far more criminally sophisticated than Susan Proctor who simply use people like her. She was stupid enough to get involved because she was offered some money."

Mr Preston said Proctor was due to start a hair and beauty course at Blackburn College and also planned to take GCSEs. "She was simply a pawn in all of this and I would like to think she has learned her lesson and moved on from this," he added.

The case was adjourned until Wednesday for a specific sentence report.